By Vanessa Ybarra

Snowmobilers spend frigid night in Clearwater backcountry

Jan 15, 2017 | 2:30 PM

KAMLOOPS — One snowmobiler is lucky to be alive after falling off a cliff bank northeast of Clearwater Saturday.

Kamloops Search and Rescue Search Manager Alan Hobler says an Alberta man and four others were snowmobiling in an out-of-bounds area near Finn Creek when he went over a steep cliff, sustaining serious leg injuries.

Hobler says the group ended up sleeping overnight in the frigid temperatures waiting for rescue crews.

Kamloops and Wells Grey Rescue Crews located the group Sunday morning, with crews having to use a winch helicopter from Vernon to airlift the man out of the area around 1:30 p.m.

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“We had hoped we’d be able to get the helicopter to them and be able to package the one person that was injured and put them in the helicopter, but the terrain was too steep to do that,” said Hobler. That’s when we decided to activate the search and rescue helicopter from Vernon.”

The man remains at Royal Inland Hospital with serious but non-life threatening injuries.

Search and Rescue Crews are reminding outdoor enthusiasts of the importance of staying in bounds, as well researching safe areas before heading into the backcountry. 

“Definitely research your areas,” said Hobler. “Go with someone who knows the area really well. There’s a lot of locals and snowmobile clubs that you can ride with. Especially with the terrain we have in B.C, it’s really not advisable to go out and try and figure things out on your own.”