Prince George, B.C. – A search is underway for a missing snowmobiler at Yanks Peak, just outside the Wells/Barkerville area.

Trent Blair with Prince George Search and Rescue (SAR) says they received a request for mutual aid from Cariboo SAR out of Williams Lake.

He says little is known about the snowmobiler other than the individual was reported missing around 9:30 last night.

“The information is sketchy at best, SAR crews from 100 Mile House, Williams Lake/Central Cariboo, Quesnel and Prince George have all been sent.”

He says four SAR members from Prince George were sent to assist at 7 this morning.

Sue Price, safety director with the Williams Lake Powder Kings Snowmobile Club, is encouraging club members to lend a helping hand.

She says a search headquarters has been set up at the Yank’s Peak Safety Cabin and notes there will be a helicopter flying over the area mid-morning searching.

In the meantime, Avalanche Canada has issued a special public avalanche warning for the Central Columbia Mountains.

It encompasses portions of the following forecast regions—the Kootenay-Boundary, South Columbia, North Columbia and Cariboos.

The area of concern is the mountainous terrain that lies north of a line roughly between Penticton, Nelson and Cranbrook, and south of a line between Williams Lake and Valemount. The west boundary is highway 97 between Penticton and Williams Lake; the east boundary is the Columbia and North Thompson rivers.