Robson Valley Search and Rescue members rescued four snowmobilers from two separate locations on Monday after the sledders spent the night stuck in the backcountry.
With the help of Parks Canada safety specialists, a Prince George man and a Calgary man, both 33 years old, were found stranded in a gully in the Alan Creek area at about 2 p.m.
They were reported overdue shortly before 8 p.m. Sunday, about four hours after other snowmobilers told police the two were in the location and confirmed it was too steep and dark to get out of the area.
"The snowmobilers were well equipped with reliable gear, equipment, food and communication devices," North District RCMP Cst. Lesley Smith said.
"They were able to make contact and confirmed no one was injured and [they] were digging in for the night."
A long-line cable was used to pull the two out of the gully. They were transported to a nearby cabin and then flown by helicopter to the Alan Creek parking lot, where they retrieved their vehicle.
Earlier the same day and using a helicopter, Robson Valley SAR located two Spruce Grove, Alta., men, ages 19 and 20, overdue from snowmobiling on Lucille Mountain.
They were found stranded in steep terrain and deep snow in the Dore River area, "which is known to be a difficult area to get out of," Smith said.
Rescuers landed on a nearby ridge and upon descending into a bowl, gave them snowshoes to help them get back to the helicopter which, in turn, flew them back to their vehicles.
Friends of the two had notified McBride RCMP the afternooon before when they failed to show at the parking lot but a search that evening was called off due to the darkness and heavy snowfall. The search resumed at daybreak Monday.
None of the snowmobilers was injured.
