Two backcountry skiers that went missing Thursday were found the next morning near Red Mountain Resort.
The skiers, a 46 year old man and his 15 year old son, had gone out skiing for the day and when they did not return as expected at 4:30 p.m. on Thursday, Rossland Search and Rescue was called in.
The team conducted a search into the night unsuccessfully, then continued the search the next morning with the help of South Columbia and Castlegar Search and Rescue units.
The skiers were located near a drainage to Esling Creek at 10:45 a.m. Friday. They were both in good condition.
They had gotten lost after taking a wrong path Thursday before the weather closed in around Gray Mountain, which they were on the backside of.
The skiers, from Boston, MA, were familiar with the area, and in good physical shape, but were caught up in white-out conditions in the backcountry.
RCMP Sgt, Rob Hawton said that this was the second rescue that Search and Rescue has been called out for in just three days.
“On March 12 at 11:45 p.m., police received a report of two snowshoers missing at Strawberry Pass, located on Hwy. 3B north of Rossland,” Hawton said, adding that the men, in their late 40’s-early 50’s, had gone out at around 6 p.m. for an hour or two and had not returned. Rossland Search and Rescue was activated and located the pair at just after four in the morning.
“They were in good condition and had gotten lost in bad weather conditions,” he said.