‘I really thought I was going to die there’: Snowmobiler recalls dramatic Cape Breton rescue

When Dave Metcalfe was finally rescued after being stranded in the snow for almost 20 hours, he couldn’t believe help had actually come. He had dug a hole to shelter himself from the high winds, heavy snow drifts, and freezing temperatures in the Cape Breton Highlands, and had almost given up hope of being found.

Metcalfe and his friend, Hughie Whalen, had set out for a snowmobiling trip in the national park despite the less-than-ideal weather conditions. As they tried to make their way back to their truck after nightfall, they found themselves in trouble, facing massive snow drifts and blizzard-like conditions. With one sled stuck in the snow, they made the difficult decision to split up, with Whalen leaving to seek help while Metcalfe hunkered down in a makeshift shelter.

As the hours passed and Metcalfe couldn’t get much sleep, he feared the worst for his friend. He was eventually located by rescue crews around 3 p.m., after Whalen had been found earlier in the day. Metcalfe was brought to the Pig and Whistle, where he was given food, water, and dry clothes.

Reflecting on the ordeal, Metcalfe acknowledged that he had done almost everything right to survive, keeping his snowsuit on and digging a hole to protect himself. Whalen, however, was in rougher condition when he was found, suffering from hypothermia but expected to make a full recovery.

Stephanie Whalen, Hughie’s wife, expressed her gratitude for her husband’s safe return and emphasized the importance of taking weather conditions seriously. She hopes that this rescue serves as a reminder of the dangers of being unprepared in the wilderness.

The community’s response to the rescue was overwhelming for Metcalfe, who was grateful for the kindness of strangers who came together to ensure his safety. He and Whalen both learned valuable lessons from the experience, and are now more aware of the risks of venturing out in harsh weather conditions.