The
Crowsnest Pass Rescue Squad was called out on Saturday, January 15th after two Calgary snowmobilers became lost north of the Atlas Staging area.
Crowsnest Pass RCMP received a call via cell phone from the pair at around 9:40 p.m., after their snowmobiles had gotten stuck and they could not make their way back to their vehicles at the staging area.
The pair, a man and woman from Calgary, had unloaded their sleds at approximately 6:30 p.m. and gone out for a 90-minute ride before getting stuck and attempting to make their way back on foot.
They were unfamiliar with the area, with limited snowmobile experience, in addition to not being equipped with dry clothing, emergency equipment, or the means to make a shelter or fire to signal rescuers.
High winds and blowing snow added to their concern, as temperatures continued to drop and weather conditions worsened.
At roughly 11:30 p.m., three rescue technicians departed from the Atlas Staging area on snowmobiles.
The lost sledders were located shortly after midnight, walking south along the pipeline, approximately five miles north of the staging area.
“They gave a very accurate description of their location, and that made it a lot easier for us to find them,” said Crowsnest Rescue Chief Michael Taje.
Their clothes were wet and cold by this point, and they were concerned about hypothermia.
They were transported to the Crowsnest Pass hospital for examination and later released.
Police and Crowsnest Rescue urge recreational snowmobilers to take extra care and precaution when sledding in the backcountry, particularly when in unfamiliar territory, and when conditions are not ideal.
