4 Hikers Stranded on Mountain During Storm. Rescuers Unable to Reach Them for 4 Days Because of Avalanche Threat

4 Hikers Stranded on Mountain During Storm. Rescuers Unable to Reach Them for 4 Days Because of Avalanche Threat

“This time of year, it’s not just a hike, it’s a mountaineering objective,” said Brent Boulet, president of Ridge Meadows Search and Rescue

Sam Gillette

Tue, January 27, 2026 at 5:40 PM UTC

3 min read

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Rescue teams at the summit of Golden Ears; the emergency shelter where the four men stayed. Ridge Meadows Search and Rescue — Rescue teams at the summit of Golden Ears; the emergency shelter where the four men stayed.
Ridge Meadows Search and Rescue

NEED TO KNOW

Four men were stuck on a mountain in western Canada for four days after a storm blew in on Jan. 10
The hikers stayed in an emergency shelter for three nights until the weather cleared enough for search and rescue teams to reach them
“The group was tired and hungry, but otherwise in good shape,” the Ridge Meadows Search and Rescue said

Four hikers sheltered on a mountain in Canada for three nights after a snowstorm left them stranded earlier this month. Following the harrowing rescue, authorities warned that the story could have ended differently.

On Saturday, Jan. 10, four men from Coquitlam, British Columbia, reached the summit of Golden Ears, according to Ridge Meadows Search and Rescue (RMSR) and the Vancouver Sun. After ascending the 5,630-foot mountain with two peaks, the group was surprised by a storm that limited visibility because of the whiteout conditions, RMSR said. Fortunately, the men were prepared to stay overnight and worked their way to an emergency shelter on Panorama Ridge. Within the shelter, the hikers sent out an SOS call.

The search and rescue team was activated that same evening, but the rescue operation was quickly stalled because of the bad weather. A helicopter couldn’t reach them safely, and the possibility of an avalanche prevented crew members from heading out on foot, the agency said.

On Sunday morning, a helicopter was able to get within about 1,000 feet of the encampment, but couldn’t safely access the four men. A similar attempt on Monday also failed because of inclement weather, RMSR said.

That evening, the rescue effort became even more urgent when the rescue leaders learned the hikers no longer had essential supplies.

“They said by Monday night they had run out of food and other supplies,” Brent Boulet, president of Ridge Meadows Search and Rescue, told the Vancouver Sun. “Now we are starting to feel the pressure of getting them out as soon as possible.”

By the afternoon of Tuesday, Jan. 13, the search and rescue team worked quickly when there was a break in the weather. Helicopters were able to land next to the shelter, according to RMSR.

The four hikers were rescued after four days on the mountain. Ridge Meadows Search and Rescue — The four hikers were rescued after four days on the mountain.
Ridge Meadows Search and Rescue

“The group was tired and hungry, but otherwise in good shape,” the organization said. The men were then flown to a nearby airport, where they were able to reunite with their families.

Search and rescue officials issued a reminder following the multi-agency rescue. Hikers should expect the weather to change quickly in the mountains, and always bring supplies to stay overnight. RMSR also advised that people look up avalanche conditions before going into such terrain, and always have equipment and knowledge to avoid or navigate avalanche-prone areas.

First responders arrived in a helicopter. Ridge Meadows Search and Rescue — First responders arrived in a helicopter.
Ridge Meadows Search and Rescue

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Boulet had similar recommendations for hikers attempting to summit the high peaks in the region.

“This time of year, it’s not just a hike — it’s a mountaineering objective,” he told the paper. “It’s not a casual hike. Anyone going up in the Alpine of Golden Ears needs to have that experience.”

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