A recent rescue task has search and rescue members in the North Okanagan reminding people to remain vigilant and practice safe outdoor recreating.
On Wednesday, volunteers with the Vernon Search and Rescue (VSAR) team were called out to a remote area near Monashee Provincial Park by the RCMP to investigate an abandoned camp
The team arrived at Spectrum Lake and initiated a search for the two occupants and their dog.
However, due to two other tasks, the team has a limited number of members available for this task, which was expected to cover a very large area.
Fortunately, VSAR was able to get air assistance from Civil Air Search and Rescue to get one member into the air to begin searching for the pair of campers.
“Once ground crews were at the trailhead we coordinated with the RCMP K9 team and assignments were given,” says VSAR in a social media post.
“Teams quickly covered the 6km into the lake with one team preparing to climb to Little Peters Lake in preparation of more thorough Alpine searches in the morning.”
After team members searched the abandoned camp and surrounding areas, crew were preparing to return to the trailhead to continue the search.
Just before departing down the trail, the two people walked into the camp in “excellent physical and mental condition.”
“Sometimes it all comes down to timing,” the post adds.
According to the search and rescue team, the two people had decided to spend a few days in the alpine areas of the park and had brought enough equipment to maintain two camps.
Fortunately, the VSAR team did not have to continue the search which could have seen members camping out overnight in the mountain before being joined by a larger group.
In an effort to avoid these types of tasks and to ensure resources are not spread too thin during the busy camping season, VSAR is reminding all campers, hikers, boaters and others of a few safety practices.
This includes:
Leave a detailed trip plan with a trusted person
If your plans change, communicate these changes, if you are not able to communicate due to a lack of available technology stick with your original plan.
If you establish a base camp and are going to be away from it for an extended period leave a note with your plans
Practice bear aware camping
