Lost skier rescued on back of Big White mountain

KELOWNA – A skier separated from his group in the backcountry at Big White Ski Resort spent the night in a warm bed instead of a snow bank.

Central Okanagan Search and Rescue volunteers were called out last night, Dec. 20, when the man became separated from his group while skiing on the backside of the mountain.

When he didn’t show up at the planned rendezvous point, his companions called for help right away.

“The group did the right thing by having a plan including a meeting time and place, and they called for help,” search manager David Crawford says in a media release. “(The skier) made his way to an unused logging road but not knowing which way to walk, he wisely built a snow shelter and awaited rescue.”

A search and rescue team on snowmobiles found the missing man in good condition.

Crawford says members from the Big White ski patrol, along with volunteers from the Kelowna Snowmobile Club and Oliver-Osoyoos Search and Rescue, took part in the search.

“As volunteers it’s sometimes hard to have people available and being able to call on nearby teams and groups like the snowmobile club is a big help,” he says in the release.

To contact the reporter for this story, email Howard Alexander at halexander@infonews.ca. To contact the editor, email mjones@infonews.ca or call 250-718-2724.