Ridge Meadows Search and Rescue (RMSAR) said three young men plucked from Alouette Mountain in Golden Ears Provincial Park overnight were ill-prepared for the conditions.
The three teens, who had set up camp just beneath the summit, sent out a distress call on their emergency beacon sometime after 7 p.m. RCMP received the message and notified RMSAR.
“After making cellphone contact, it was learned that the group was lightly equipped and not fully prepared to spend the night in sub-zero temperatures in the snow,” RMSAR said in a statement.
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Searchers made contact with the group six hours later and learned two of the men were soaking wet and hypothermia was setting in.
“They did have a tent and sleeping bags but these were not suitable for a mountain environment in winter,” RMSAR said.
At first light a helicopter flew in to airlift the campers out in three separate flights. All were taken to hospital for evaluation.
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