Golden (BC), Canada – Two skiers from Vancouver Island were rescued Monday after spending an unplanned night in the backcountry after skiing out of bounds at Kicking Horse Mountain Resort.nThe Golden detachment of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) were contacted at 9:30 p.m. Sunday night with a report of two overdue skiers. The two unidentified men, ages 32 and 40, had been skiing at Kicking Horse Mountain Resort the day prior to the report. RCMP were notified by a friend of the party that the two individuals were unaccounted for.

Golden RCMP notified Golden Search and Rescue and Kicking Horse Mountain Resort of the missing persons. Kicking Horse Mountain Resort conducted an in-bounds perimeter search for the missing party. No missing persons were found within the ski area boundary. Additionally a full air search began with Golden Search and Rescue at first light on Monday.

The first individual was spottted at approximately 8:37 a.m. on Monday morning by the Golden Search and Rescue approximately six kilometers, or 3.75 miles outside and beyond the Kicking Horse Mountain Resort Controlled Recreational Area. The skier was plucked from the forest using a line dropped from the helicopter and transferred to Golden and District Hospital. At 10:16 a.m. the second individual was found nearby and transferred by helicopter to Golden and District Hospital.

Both men were treated for non-life threatening injuries. The Golden RCMP is currently investigating the incident.