Search for buried snowmobiler near Chetwynd scaled back

Photo: Prince George SAR

Rescue efforts for a snowmobiler presumed buried in an avalanche south of Chetwynd have been called off. 

The RCMP says the search for a  31-year-old Fort. St John man, who authorities believe was buried in an avalanche on Feb. 2, is now a recovery mission. 

Volunteers from across Northern B.C., three police service dogs, an avalanche dog and support aircraft scoured the area over the past week. Searchers managed to find the missing man’s snowmobile, but not him. 

Poor weather hampered search efforts, with controlled blasting required on Friday and Saturday to make the area safe for searchers. 

“Search and rescue efforts are no longer underway,” said Cpl. Jesse O’Donaghey. “Despite all efforts to locate this missing person, police now believe their search for the Fort St. John man is a recovery operation. The search is not over, and RCMP will monitor the area of the slide from the air as the snowpack melts.”

RCMP are asking backcountry users to avoid the area of the slide and are discouraging others from searching the area due to the high risk of avalanche.