Five lost skiers rescued out of Big White’s backcountry

The Kelowna RCMP called on members of the Central Okanagan Search and Rescue to save five skiers who got stuck in the Big White Mountain Ecological Reserve backcountry.

The call came in last night, Feb. 18, according to a media release from COSAR.

The rescue team deployed 10 support personnel and seven snowmobiles.

The sled team located the lost skiers on the Two John Forest Service Road.

“Once all the skiers were out, they were met by family members and taken back to the Big White to warm up,” the release says.

“The coordinated effort between our two teams made this a textbook rescue,” SAR manager Duane Tresnich said in the release. "It was also a positive note that all the skiers stayed together in one place when they realized they were in trouble, making it easier for search teams to reach them.”

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