Photo: Jeremy Vandekerkhove, Team Leader for Vernon Search and Rescue Helicopter

Two backcountry skiers have been rescued after spending the night on a mountain near Trail.

Leigh Pearson, search manager with Vernon Search and Rescue said the two males activated a spot beacon on Saturday night at about 5:30 p.m.

“Looking at the maps and Google Earth maps it looks like pretty rugged awful country,” he said.

Rescue crews tried to locate the two males, that were about 25 kilometres north west of Trail, but due to darkness and a high avalanche risk had to pull out.

“They had to retreat because of darkness and high avalanche hazard, they didn’t want to push their luck,” said Pearson.

Crews were able to locate the males on Sunday at about noon.

“Job done, we just got a message from our helicopter team that the two skiers have been rescued and are out of danger and back at the search headquarters,” he said.

It is not clear what led to the males needing help.

South Columbia Search and Rescue, Vernon Search and Rescue and the Vernon SAR helicopter winch rescue team all responded.