Snowmobiler dead, two skiers rescued in separate B.C. backcountry emergencies

FIELD, B.C. — Police in eastern British Columbia are warning backcountry users to be ready for emergencies after a snowmobiler was killed and two skiers had to be rescued this week in separate incidents.

RCMP in the Golden-Field detachment say the death happened on Jan. 21 when a snowmobile driven by a 24-year-old man left the trail down a steep embankment and hit some trees.

Police say the man was part of a six-person group returning from a day of sledding in the Frigate Mountain area, and he died at the scene of the crash.

A rescue team took hours to get to the site due to the remote location, and the victim’s body was taken out early on Jan. 22.