8 lost skiers helped by search-and-rescue crews near Whistler, B.C., over the weekend

Rescue crews were kept busy on B.C.'s South Coast over the weekend as multiple calls were made to help lost skiers and hikers on local mountains.

Rescue crews were kept busy on B.C.'s South Coast over the weekend as multiple calls were made to help lost skiers and hikers on local mountains.

Whistler Search and Rescue said its team received several calls Sunday about skiers who were "trapped in avalanche terrain," while the hazard rating was high. Eight skiers from three separate groups were reported lost.

"At some point it appears that skiers had crossed a well-demarcated ski area boundary rope line and headed into a locals' favourite backcountry area known as the Cakehole in Garibaldi Provincial Park," Brad Sills with WSAR told CTV News in an emailed statement.

"Successful travel through this area and out requires an elevated level of skill, significant local knowledge, appropriate safety gear, physical fitness and a strong mental perseverance level."

Sills explained that, because of the high avalanche rating, rescue teams were unable to access the search zone on skis. Instead, it called North Shore Rescue to help with its night-vision-equipped Talon helicopter. But freezing rain and looming lightning storms delayed the helicopter's takeoff at Vancouver International Airport.

While waiting, WSAR talked one of the lost parties around some obstacles and three skiers made it back within the ski boundary.

"As the night wore on and the subjects, who were in very steep, unstable terrain realized that exiting out the bottom presented more danger than retreating back, were faced with a very difficult choice," Sills said about the remaining skiers.