Rescuers build snow caves to house injured snowboarders

Rescuers built snow caves behind Strathcona Provincial Park on Sunday to stay with an injured snowboarder until she could be airlifted out.

The injured woman was picked up by helicopter around 10:30 a.m. Monday and transferred to a waiting ambulance.

Her male companion was not injured.

The rescue began when the Comox Valley Search and Rescue Fire Department received a call around 3:30 p.m. Sunday about a snowboarder who was injured on Mount Allan Brooks, near Lake Helen Mackenzie.

About 15 search and rescue team members tried to reach the couple throughout Sunday afternoon in heavy snow, on snowmobiles and on skis, Paul Berry, a spokesman for the rescue facility, said Monday.

Berry said a group of four rescuers finally reached the couple around 1:30 a.m. Monday and built two snow caves where they could take shelter for the night.

“It is not unusual to have to spend the night when conditions do not allow anything else.”

He added that many more search and rescue team members were involved, including some trying to blaze trails on snowmobiles.

Berry said this was the second rescue this weekend involving Comox Valley volunteers, who were also called Saturday afternoon to help an injured snowmobiler near Mount Washington.

Due to the warning of a high avalanche risk in the area, they had to obtain the opinion of the safety inspector at the avalanche site before taking further action.

Berry said two men were “high scoring” – trying to get their snowmobiles as high as possible up a hill – when one fell and injured his arm.

High grades can be risky depending on conditions and where they are made, he said.

The victim was taken by helicopter to an ambulance waiting at Courtenay Airpark.

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