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Missing skiers found on Hummingbird Pass

A pair of overdue skiers reported missing on Boxing Day turned up tired and cold but otherwise safe and sound.
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A pair of overdue skiers reported missing on Boxing Day turned up tired and cold but otherwise safe and sound.

Nelson and Search and Rescue says they were called in after one of the two failed to meet a parter for dinner.

They were last seen in the Hummingbird Pass area in early afternoon. Seven searchers responded along with help from South Columbia Search and Rescue.

“Members were out all night looking in the Five Mile drainage where most subjects are found,” information officer Chris Armstrong said in a news release. “The team travelled all night not finding the subjects in the typical location and returned in the early morning.”

On their return, searchers found the missing duo had beat them back to the parking lot. They were on the Whalesback area and hunkered down for the night, Armstrong said.

“It seemed they had equipment troubles and boot packed down in the early morning tired and cold. Our team met them at the parking lot at the same time of their return to base. A good outcome once again.”

Lost snowboarders rescued

Nelson Search and Rescue also helped find a lost snowboarder on Mount Thompson east of Creston on Sunday.

The 23-year-old Creston man was dropped off by a friend with a snow machine at the height of land on the mountain and went off the ridge in a direction he thought would lead him to a road.

He was alone and unequipped for the backcountry, Armstrong said.

He got lost but had a cell phone to call for help. Five searchers from Nelson joined Creston and South Columbia search and rescue members. In the meantime, an RCMP dog handler from Cranbrook had followed the missing man’s tracks on skis with his dog and found the man, but they needed help to make their way out.

Three Nelson search members followed the tracks and met the missing snowboarder and the police officer in steep, dense trees. A track was set up to an old logging road that was accessible by snowmobile and the team led the pair out after several hours.