A group of 20 Castlegar students and four chaperones were retrieved by Castlegar Search and Rescue after severe weather wreaked havoc on a Slocan Lake canoe trip.
School District 20 says the group of grade 11 students was from Stanley Humphries Secondary School’s Outdoor Education program. They were on a multi-day trip that began on Sunday, June 11 and was scheduled to end Friday, June 16.
According to CSAR manager Gord Ihlen, the group was flooded out of their campsite Tuesday night and spent a cold wet night outdoors in the Nemo Creek area while thunderstorms and heavy rain raged across the West Kootenay.
SD20 said that due to the deteriorating weather conditions, the field trip leader made a decision to end the trip early. Search and Rescue was contacted so that students could be safely escorted out of the area.
Three students were exhibiting signs of hypothermia and were transported to hospital Wednesday morning, but were released the same day.
The remaining students and chaperones were transported by CSAR’s jet boat to the Village of Slocan where warming tents were set up. The last of the group arrived at the village around 1 p.m.
The village put out a plea for warm blankets and clothing as the rescue was underway and local residents responded quickly with supplies.
READ MORE: B.C. Peony Show coming to Castlegar this weekend
betsy.kline@castlegarnews.com
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