A local woman and her friend were found “in good shape, good spirits and rested” this morning by Nelson Search and Rescue after getting lost in Hummingbird Pass last night.
The two women were skiing in the area, which was unfamiliar to them without a map.
“They did the right thing when they did get lost and it started to get dark, they hunkered down and kept themselves warm and waited until it was daylight to start coming out,” said Scott Spencer with search and rescue.
Spencer said the call came in last night around 10:15 p.m.
There were two crews dispatched to the area and they attempted to draw the women out.
“We had a team driving up and down the road honking a horn with the lights flashing,” said Spencer. “I had a team bring our repeater into the pass which I knew we’d need for our day today for communications and while they were there they did some attraction techniques, some whistling and calling names.”
Unfortunately the crews’ efforts were unsuccessful and crews set out again this morning at 6 a.m.
Spencer said that a helicopter was sent up to the area to assess the avalanche risk before sending crews in.
“In the course of their assessment they noticed a spot that looked like someone had spent the night there. The snow had been trampled down and it looked like they had a little bit of a fire,” he said.
The helicopter crew was able to pick up a trail and locate the women.
“The crew exited and skied down to the two who were in good shape, good spirits, rested and ready to find their way out this morning,” said Spencer.
One of the women was new to Nelson having just moved to the area with her family and the other woman was visiting from Golden.
“I think their families were happy to see them,” said Spencer. “They were quite anxious last night.”
