A father and son who went missing while hunting Monday evening near Apex Mountain Road were found safe and uninjured about 5 a.m. the following morning.
The pair were first reported missing to the Penticton Indian Band Volunteer Fire Department about 8:30 p.m. and Penticton RCMP were called around 10 p.m.
About 13 members of Penticton and District Search and Rescue (PENSAR) joined the efforts along with a fixed-wing aircraft from Civil Air Search and Rescue from Vernon which had night-search capability.
“We had intermittent cell phone service with them so they were able to communicate in between that they did have a fire going and they just stayed put,” said PENSAR search manager Dale Jorgensen. “We worked together with the other people out there so it was actually a good joint effort. There were no problems, no medical issues or distress.”
The area where they were located is near the Shatford Creek forest service road about four kilometres up Apex Mountain Road and just to the north.
According to Jorgensen the two people, believed to have been from the Penticton Indian Reserve, made the correct choice to stay in one location and keep warm until they could be located.
A number of friends and family members also took part in the search.