Increased rescue calls on Okanagan forest service road lead to warning

The surge in rescues is attributed to a combination of factors, including unexpected conditions along the route.

Search and rescue groups are warning motorists about the 201 Forest Service Road between Penticton, B.C., and Kelowna after crews responded to a high number of calls this year.

The 201 FSR connects Penticton to Kelowna over 100 km of dirt road, offering adventure but leaving some stranded.

“We’ve had at least six calls out to the 201 alone this year, along with other forest service roads,” says Jesse MacDonalds, Penticton Search and Rescue (PENSAR) team leader.

The surge in rescues is attributed to a combination of factors, including unexpected conditions along the route.

In fact, Penticton Search and Rescue received its highest number of calls on the 201 FSR this year, with two incidents just last weekend. One involved a group of four who set out for a ride underestimating the conditions ahead.

“A group of four went out for a short ride on the 201 not expecting to hit snow. They were inadequately dressed, but luckily they had warm blankets, which saved them,” said Kelvin Hall, PENSAR manager.

Crews are seeing more and more people hitting the 201 FSR, often expecting spring-like conditions, but they’re quickly faced with the harsh reality of changing weather.

“Early on, the road is well-maintained and groomed, with just some potholes. But then you come around a corner, and it turns to slush. Snow gets deeper, and it’s easier to get stuck,” says MacDonald.