Increased rescue calls on Okanagan forest service road lead to warning [Video]

Search and rescue groups are warning motorists about the 201 Forest Service Road between Penticton, B.C., and Kelowna after crews responded to a high number of calls this year.

The 201 FSR connects Penticton to Kelowna over 100 km of dirt road, offering adventure but leaving some stranded.

“We’ve had at least six calls out to the 201 alone this year, along with other forest service roads,” says Jesse MacDonalds, Penticton Search and Rescue (PENSAR) team leader.

The surge in rescues is attributed to a combination of factors, including unexpected conditions along the route.

In fact, Penticton Search and Rescue received its highest number of calls on the 201 FSR this year, with two incidents just last weekend. One involved a group of four who set out for a ride underestimating the conditions ahead.

“A group of four went out for a short ride on the 201 not expecting to …