Hiker finds unexploded mortar in park

Sep 1, 2020 | 2:58 PM

Another remnant of military training has turned up in Kalamalka Lake Provincial Park.

RCMP say a hiker stumbled upon an unexploded Second World War ordnance in the Cosens Bay area in Coldstream Monday afternoon (Aug. 31).

The device was not near a public trail, but has been marked with police tape, and private security is at the scene to guard it.

The Canadian Forces Explosive Disposal unit will collect and dispose of the mortar.

“Even though it has been decades since this area was last used by the military, every year these devices are located by the public,” Cpl. Tania Finn, media relations officer with the Vernon North Okanagan RCMP told Vernon Matters. “It is important that users of park stay on establish trails and alert police if a device is found.”

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Andrew Nydam discovered the mortar and hopes to create awareness for others about the devices.

“I was out in the park with my camera looking for critters to photograph and saw the fins of the mortar round sticking out of the rocks,” he told Vernon Matters. “I didn’t see it until I was about 2/3 feet away, nearly having stepped on it. I recognized it right away, took some pictures, and after returning to the parking lot I called the RCMP. An officer came out and we hiked out and found the item again. She confirmed what it was and I left the site. She stayed behind until other agencies could arrive as someone has to be near it at all times. As it was partially buried, it could just be the fins with no explosive attached, there was no way to tell without removing the rocks and debris covering it.”

Another mortar was found in the Cosens Bay area of the park back in May.

The area was previously used as a testing range for mortar rounds and military training.

by Pete McIntyre

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