Revelstoke RCMP announce search suspended for missing snowmobiler Travis Brown

After three days of searching turned up no new signs of missing snowmobiler Travis Allen Brown, Revelstoke RCMP announced on the afternoon of Wednesday, Dec. 9 that they are suspending the search.

“The search command team has reviewed the search efforts to date with a decision being made by the command team to suspend the search at this time,” said Revelstoke RCMP spokesperson Cpl. Thomas Blakney in a statement that came just after 5 p.m. on Dec. 9. “The resumption of further search efforts will be assessed based on several factors including weather and snow conditions and specifically any future information being received that may assist us in locating Travis Brown.”

Searches on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday involved helicopters, snowmobiles, and skiers, focusing on the Boulder Mountain and Frisby Ridge riding areas.

Travis Brown, 42, from Drayton Valley, Alberta. Photo: RCMP handout

Brown went missing while snowmobiling in the Boulder Mountain area which is located at the northern edge of Revelstoke. He last contacted his family on the morning of Saturday, Dec. 5 to say he was going riding in the Boulder Mountain area. Witnesses have reported seeing him near the Boulder Mountain Cabin on the mountain on Saturday afternoon. His red Dodge pickup was noted in a Boulder Mountain parking area on Dec. 6, and he was officially listed as missing when he failed to return home to Alberta on Dec. 7. For more background on the search, see past Revelstoke Mountaineer stories from Dec. 7, Dec. 8, and Dec. 9.

Revelstoke RCMP, who serve as the spokespersons for Revelstoke Search & Rescue during searches, say they have learned that Brown left the Boulder Mountain Cabin at 3 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 5, “with the intentions of returning to his vehicle where he had initially left it.”

The Boulder Mountain Cabin is located at the gateway to alpine snowmobiling areas, after a climb up a network of trails leading to the cabin.

In a statement, police continued to appeal for tips. “We ask any snowmobilers using the area to be aware that we still have a missing person who was last thought to be on Boulder Mountain and such area and that they contact the Revelstoke RCMP with any observations or information.”

Brown is described as a Caucasian male, 42, 185 cm tall (6’1”) and 77 kilos (170 lbs.) with blond hair and brown eyes. His family believes he was riding a 2014 Polaris RMK that is red and white in colour. He is believed to be wearing a brighter green Helly Hansen snowmobile outfit with a green leaf pattern on both the matching jacket and pants. He was wearing a snowmobile helmet with green camouflage goggles.

Police are requesting anyone who may have been in contact with Brown in the past 48 hours to call the Revelstoke RCMP at 250-837-5255 or call Crimestoppers at 1-800-222-8477.