VSAR Spends the night on Mountain East of Cherryville

September 7 2026 - Better Safe Than Sorry. Vernon Search and Rescue was called around 11 p.m. Sunday September 6 to help find two people reported lost near Cherryville.

VSAR quickly found the pair’s vehicle and began a search with drones and ground teams.

A ground team is believed to have spotted them after noticing flashlights light near the shore of Monashee Lake.

Contact was made and both were reported in good health, and surprised they were the subject of a search.

The search location is east of Cherryville on the Highway 6 corridor, about 27 kilometres (17 miles) from town toward the Monashees.

Retracing the ground route over the steep wet terrain in the dark was judged too dangerous by the search team, so a helicopter was requested for extraction at first light. Weather permitting.

Graham Helicopters, a company often tasked by VSAR, flew the job.

At dawn the rain that fell overnight stopped and visibility was good enough for the helicopter to reach the search team.

Eight people were airlifted out, the two hikers who decided to end their adventure and six VSAR members.

The night leaves a simple lesson: make your intentions known, and be sure they are understood.

Ultimately, all's well that ends well.

VSAR Spends the night on Mountain East of Cherryville