A snowmobiler missing near Pemberton, B.C., since Saturday has been found alive and in good condition, according to police.
Burnaby resident Carl Mulherin was found at around 2 p.m. Monday afternoon, just seven kilometers from where he disappeared. Police say he dug a snow cave to keep warm, and was in good spirits when he was discovered by a police helicopter.
Mulherin became separated from two friends while snowmobiling on the "Top of World" glacier.
Rescuers scoured the area north of Whistler Sunday, using the RCMP helicopter and a chartered aircraft, but poor weather only permitted sporadic air searches for the 33-year-old.
Staff Sgt. Steve LeClair told CTV News that Mulherin has been reunited with his friends.
A string of recent avalanche casualties has Mounties advising anyone who heads out into the backcountry to:
- Check avalanche conditions before leaving and avoid high risk areas
- Bring along an avalanche beacon, probe, shovel, warm clothing, survival kit, first aid kit and basic tool kit
- Leave an itinerary with someone and don't go alone
- Never rely on other snowmobilers to bail you out
Five people have perished in B.C. over the last nine days due to avalanche activity.
The most recent casualties were two French nationals who were on a heli-skiing expedition near Valemount on Saturday afternoon when a slide struck.
The men, aged 19 and 65, were smothered by snow and died before being dug out.
With files from The Canadian Press
