Falling snow and reduced visibility greeted anyone heading into the backcountry around Mount Washington Monday.
But the conditions were even worse on Saturday when two men ran into trouble near Mount Drabble, south of Mount Washington, and required rescuing.
“We were finally able to get a hold of them via text message and get a good location on them,” said Paul Berry, Comox Valley Search and Rescue search manager. “They were in some pretty substantive avalanche terrain so the recommendation was just for them to remain where they were.”
Searchers assessed the avalanche risk, chose a route and four members went in to find them on snowmobiles and a snowcat.
According to Berry, the men had no survival equipment, no avalanche safety equipment, and a dying cell phone. He also said their plan to return to their truck on Strathcona Parkway was ideal.
“Their plan was to follow their tracks back that they made on the way out but they were in a raging snowstorm and zero visibility and unable to find their way back,” he said.
Jan Neuspiel, who runs Island Alpine Guides and avalanche safety courses, says all sorts of things can go wrong when the weather is bad.
“Things like assessing hazards above you and around you. All of that becomes more difficult,” said Neuspiel. “As in this example, if you’re relying on following your tracks back the way you came and it’s snowing hard and the wind is blowing then there’s a good chance the tracks won’t be there when you go to find them again.”
Berry, meanwhile, said they don’t have to rescue many snowmobilers because most of them head out well-prepared.
Dean Stoltz
