Search team helps couple that got ‘stuck’ in backcountry

An Okanagan search and rescue group says it has seen an increase of people asking for assistance after travelling into the backcountry and getting stuck.

Central Okanagan Search and Rescue (COSAR) was called into action Sunday evening (March 24) by Vernon RCMP to locate and remove two people who were stranded on Oyama Lake Forest Service Road.

COSAR responded with seven members along with a snowmobile and UTV.

After being dispatched into the wilderness, the teams located the couple within minutes.

“They had done exactly what search teams hope for. They had stayed with their vehicle which made this a straight forward extraction,” COSAR said on social media.

The two people were not injured, and were brought to the command site and then taken home.

COSAR search manager Duane Tresnich reminds people going into the backcountry at this time of year to bring tools or equipment to dig your vehicle out in case it gets stuck.

People should also have ways to start a fire if you can’t get out, bring food and water and most importantly, let someone know where you are going and when you plan to be back.

“That way if something unexpected happens, search and rescue teams with have a starting point to come and find you,” Tresnich said.