Snowmobilers become stuck, spend night on Mt Baldy

Osoyoos RCMP requested the assistance of Oliver/Osoyoos Search and Rescue after receiving reports two snowmobilers had become stuck on Mt Baldy and failed to return to their base.

Sunday – April 5 at 3:00pm, two snowmobilers, a 47 year old man and 39 year old man both of Osoyoos called a friend to advise they were sledding in the Mt Baldy area when one of their sleds had become stuck. They advised they would be hiking approximately 1km to their other sled before making their way out.  By 9pm they had still not returned to their vehicle and further contact with both could not be established.  Oliver/Osoyoos Search and Rescue attended but due to low light and fog were unable to conduct much of a search during the night.

At approximately 9:00am this morning Oliver/Osoyoos Search and Rescue with the assistance of Eclipse Helicopters from Penticton and a snow avalanche expert from the Ministry of Transportation located both men.  They were healthy yet a bit cold.  The two had lit a fire to keep themselves somewhat warm throughout the night.

“RCMP would like to thank all those involved for their great work in this search”, says Sgt Jason Bayda, Commander of the Osoyoos RCMP,   “Their coordinated efforts made for a quick rescue of these men”.