Nothing like a good, old-fashioned Nickel-backcountry singalong to mobilize an entire search and rescue team.
On Thursday, July 31, Central Okanagan Search and Rescue (COSAR) were mid-training when reports came in of someone yelling for help near the Boulderfields, a popular climbing area along the Kettle Valley Railway. Two hikers had phoned 911 after hearing what they described as “repeated cries,” prompting the crew to scrap training and go full rescue mode, deploying their drone team and two RCMP officers.
When the first responders arrived, they too could hear faint shouts echoing through the rocks — though the words were impossible to make out. The team split into two search parties to cover the surrounding forest and roads. That’s when they found the culprit: a lone camper giving an impassioned, unaccompanied performance of Nickelback‘s greatest hits.
According to the rescue team, the man was “singing his heart out to the trees, blissfully unaware that the acoustics of the Boulderfields had turned his tent-side concert into an accidental distress signal.”
“He wasn’t in trouble,” said search manager Duane Tresnich. “Unless you count his singing.”
The team thanked the hikers who reported the noise, stressing that while this incident was harmless, it’s always better to be safe: “COSAR would like to thank the folks who called it in — it could have been serious. That area’s full of tricky terrain and bike trails, so better safe than sorry. And remember, our services are always free. And the money you save could be spent on singing lessons.”
Nickelback has not commented on this matter of utmost importance just yet. Maybe they’re lost in the wood too. Actually, yeah – let’s go look for Nickelback in the Canadian countryside! It’s a nice day out.
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