On Mar. 8 at 3:13 p.m., Golden RCMP received a report from the International Emergency Response reporting a spot activation, with GPS coordinates at Silent Pass, north of Duncan Lake, near Parson.
Golden RCMP were able to determine that three avid snowmobilers with experience in back country sledding, and overnight winter camping, were associated to the beacon.
Golden and District Search and Rescue was advised, and attempted to locate the males via helicopter, however due to severe weather conditions they were unable to continue with the search, and a decision was made to attempt another search the following morning.
At daylight, GADSAR resumed their search, and were able to locate all three males. The males explained to rescuers that their snowmobiles had become stuck, so they activated their emergency beacon, and set up an overnight camp.
One of the males, from Airdrie, AB., was transported back to Golden via helicopter to be treated for non-life threatening injuries related to smoke inhalation, and the other two males, one from Calgary and the other from Kelowna were transported back to their vehicle by GADSAR.
