5 snowshoers rescued after frigid night on Eagle Ridge
Search efforts were delayed by the high avalanche risk in the area
Coquitlam Search and Rescue members rescued five snowshoers who were stranded near Mount Beautiful on Eagle Ridge overnight.
Coquitlam SAR wrote on Twitter on Saturday night that the three women and two men, all in their 20s, were "in good spirits," but would be spending a "very cold night" on the mountain because the avalanche hazard was too high to make a rescue attempt.
The five international students from Germany, Switzerland and France headed out on Saturday morning at 9 a.m. and called for help around 5 p.m. after getting lost and encountering dangerously snowy conditions.
Ray Nordstrand, search manager with Coquitlam SAR, said the group headed out for a hike from the north end of Buntzen Lake through Swan Falls, a route that takes around 10 to 12 hours in summer conditions.
"They came to a point where they were in snow, they could hear sluffing off, there were avalanches in the area," he said.
"They were cold, they weren't sure where they were and that's when they called for help."
SAR members hiked in, reaching the group just before 2 a.m.
"The one subject is wearing Lululemon pants, so very cold, so I'd say they were not prepared. We brought them clothing and something warm to eat and drink," said Nordstrand.
Nordstrand said the avalanche risk in the area is high because of a week of Pineapple Express conditions and heavy precipitation.
"Right now is probably not the best time to be in the backcountry," he said.
One team of rescuers has reached the subjects!<br><br> We were communicating with them over the past few hours giving them advice on how to stay warm.<br><br>Now the rescuers have brought dry clothes, food, water and stoves to make warm drinks.
—@CoquitlamSARWith files from Cory Correia