Sask. snowmobilers located safe after spending night in bitter cold weather

Five people spent several hours in the frigid cold temperatures after becoming stranded in northern Saskatchewan.

On Saturday, the La Ronge RCMP received a report of the stranded snowmobilers near Clam Lake, 70 kilometres northwest of La Ronge.

The snowmobilers had become stuck in  muskeg — still unfrozen despite the frigid temperatures — and had to spend the night in the elements.

The RCMP said the group had winter gear on, some supplies and a fire going — but one of the snowmobilers was extremely cold after getting wet.

“It was a life-threatening situation,” Cpl. Shane Marion of the La Ronge RCMP said in a media release. “The temperatures had dropped to -35 or -40 C. There is real danger in temperatures like that — that kind of exposure to the elements could lead to hypothermia, which can be fatal.”

A faint cell signal alerted authorities to their location, but communication stopped, leaving the group to fend for themselves until help arrived.

With the help of the Canadian Rangers, and family members of the people who were stranded, two of the five people were found at a trailhead, as they were walking out to get help.

They then directed the rescuers to the other three people.

Apart from being very cold, all of them were checked out and allowed to go back home.

“We were very happy,” said Marion. “With those frigid conditions, we knew these people were in danger and time was of the essence. We thank the family and the Canadian Rangers for helping get them back to safety — and warmth — quickly.”