Vernon Search and Rescue (VSAR) gave a shout-out to the Vernon Snowmobile Association after celebrating the opening of its new chalet.
The Snowmobile Association held a grand opening for the chalet — built to last the next 60 years — with a barbecue lunch and fire pit on March 9.
VSAR attended the event, and took to Facebook to praise the association that has “a long history” with the search and rescue organization.
“Some of the founding members of VSAR in 1960 were also founding members of the Vernon Snowmobile Association in 1967. Over the years many members of the club have assisted VSAR on snowmobile searches, and many have gone onto become members of VSAR,” reads the Facebook post.
VSAR said its crews have already used the new chalet for training over the winter.
“We look forward to continuing our partnership together for the next 57 years,” VSAR said.
Construction efforts on the chalet began in the fall of 2022 when the old chalet was demolished. Then throughout the summer and fall of 2023 the foundation was poured, and the new chalet rose on the same spot as the old chalet.
The new chalet will always be unlocked and will service a broad range of users from snowmobilers and snowshoers in the winter to mountain bikers and hikers in the summer.
The association supports over 160 kilometres of trails and now has the brand-new chalet within Silver Star Provincial Park and another existing chalet outside of the park towards Armstrong.
READ MORE: New Vernon Snowmobile Association chalet unveiled