UPDATE: Snowmobilers missing in North Okanagan safe and sound

VERNON – The search for two missing snowmobilers in the backcountry west of Vernon ended this morning after the men returned home.

RCMP say the men made it home safely after digging themselves out and finding the correct trail out of the backcountry in the Bouleau Lake area. Rescue teams from across the Thompson-Okanagan were searching for the two sledders who didn’t return home last night, March. 4.

Michelle Goodwin told iNFOnews.ca her husband, Dalton Goodwin and her brother-in-law Sheldon Goodwin went snowmobiling near Bouleau Lake at around 10:30 a.m. yesterday. Michelle said she called 911 at around 8:30 p.m. when the pair had not returned home. She had expected them home for dinner.

Vernon Search and Rescue search manager Leigh Pearson said crews were out all night looking for the snowmobilers and two helicopters had been dispatched to join the search today. Pearson said the temperature had dropped to as low as -25 Celsius overnight.

"The males returned home and albeit cold, did not sustain any other injuries as a result of the incident," Vernon RCMP spokesperson Const. Kelly Brett says in a media release. "The RCMP would like to remind outdoor enthusiasts that if you are going to venture into the backcountry, the proper emergency equipment is to be carried with you at all times."

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— This story was updated at 11:16 a.m. Tuesday, March 5, 2019 to say the sledders had been located and at 3:04 p.m. Tuesday, March 5, 2019 with new information from RCMP.

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