The search for a missing snowmobiler south of Chetwynd has been suspended as of Saturday (February 8) according to RCMP.

The RCMP have identified the man as a 31-year-old Fort St. John resident, reported missing after an avalanche south of Chetwynd on February 2.

Search and rescue efforts are no longer underway, stated Cpl. Jesse O’Donaghey.

The search is now a recovery operation according to RCMP, and the area of the slide will be monitored by air.

Search and rescue volunteers from Prince George, Tumbler Ridge, Fort St. John and Chetwynd all deployed, alongside  RCMP Police Service Dogs.

Searchers managed to recover the missing man’s snowmobile.

Recovery efforts have been hampered by poor weather conditions throughout the week and prevented searchers from accessing the area safely.

A controlled blasting was necessary in order to deem the area safe for searchers to re-gain access over the weekend.

RCMP are asking backcountry users to avoid the area of the slide, discouraging others from searching the area due to high avalanche risk.