Search on for 2 Vancouver men believed lost on Cypress Mountain

A vehicle found abandoned in the parking lot at Cypress Mountain Christmas night has sparked a search for two Vancouver men who may be lost on the mountain.

West Vancouver Police say they were contacted by Cypress staff when the vehicle was found after the park closed for the night.

After investigating police say they couldn't contact the registered owner of the vehicle, Roy Tin Hou Lee, 43.

Lee, an avid hiker, is believed to have headed out on the mountain with Chun Sek Lam, 64. Both men are experienced hikers, according to searchers.

North Shore and Lions Bay search and rescue teams have set up a command centre at the mountain, and a search for the hikers started Monday morning. 

Search manager Simon Jackson says nearly 20 volunteers spent Boxing Day searching in challenging conditions with little information to go on. 

"One of the key things here is leaving a trip plan and a device to be able to contact us with a cell phone, or if you're out of range a cell phone and a satellite beacon for communication, because they don't have any of those things," Jackson said.

"It's making it a lot more difficult for us."  

Rescue teams and police are in contact with the families and colleagues of the missing men, trying to ascertain which trails they may have hiked in the past.

Although both are experienced, Jackson said he doesn't believe the men have done overnight trips.

"We're expecting them to be relatively well equipped for a long day hike yesterday," Jackson said.

"We don't know if they have any additional equipment for an overnight trip," he added.

Jackson says the search is targeting the trails where the car was parked, and will continue, taking into consideration avalanche and safety conditions. 

With files from Corey Correia