For the second time this season, members of the Williams Lake Powder Kings Snowmobile Club rushed to Yank’s Peak early Sunday morning to help rescue a missing snowmobiler.
Search and Rescue crews from Williams Lake, 100 Mile House and Prince George, and members of the WLPKSC received a phone call from the RCMP during the early morning hours Sunday and mobilized a search team to the Yank’s Peak riding area.
After spending the night on the mountain, lone rider Raymond Repetowski was located safe at roughly 10 a.m. near “Stop Sign Ridge.”
Sue Price, safety director with the WLPKSC, said he was cold and wet but in good health.
“A huge thank you to Rick Seibert, Jason Drodge, Gilbert Quesnelle, Dawn Unruh, Kevin Unruh, Matt Gertzen, Mitch Benisch, Goel Rauch and Gord Rauch for participating in [the Dec. 13] search for Ray Repetowski,” she said in a note of thanks on the club’s Facebook page.
Raymond’s wife, Laura, said words cannot express their gratitude towards the search party.
When asked what happened Laura responded by explaining her husband had met six riders at the base of the mountain trail and rode along with them until his sled broke down.
Unable to rejoin the group, he found himself alone and later got his sled stuck trying to make his way back to his truck.
“He tried to dig it [his sled] out all night which kept him warm,” Laura said.
The latest search comes on the heels of another similar incident that took place Nov. 11 at Yank’s Peak where a rider was successfully located after spending the night alone on the mountain.
WLPKSC president Mark Snowball said the No. 1 safety tip for riding in the backcountry is to never ride alone.
“It’s a good wakeup for the beginning of the season,” he said following the Nov. 11 incident.
“The biggest thing is don’t be riding alone.”
This Thursday evening, Dec. 17, the WLPKSC and Central Cariboo Search and Rescue are meeting to discuss search protocol moving forward in the season.