Lions Bay Search and Rescue (LBSAR) was busy on Sunday.
The volunteer search and rescue organization was tasked with two rescues, including one that needed a nighttime helicopter rescue at a high elevation just north of Vancouver.
A debrief from LBSAR says the subjects were a husband and wife who were attempting to complete the gruelling Howe Sound Crest Trail in a single day.
“The pair had parked their vehicle at Porteau Cove and arranged a shuttle to Cypress Mountain, where they began their hike at approximately 9 am,” the debrief explained. “By the time they reached James Peak, they were exhausted and unable to continue.”
According to LBSAR, they were “poorly equipped for the demands of the trip,” and people with experience doing the route chimed in to say 9 am was far too late to start a trek of that nature.
“The Howe Sound Crest Trail is a long, strenuous and committing backcountry route that requires careful planning, appropriate equipment, sufficient food and water, and a realistic understanding of the time and fitness required to complete it,” the debrief added.
With daylight already fading by the time the couple called for help, LBSAR partnered with Talon Helicopters to conduct the team’s first operational night hover rescue.
Three LBSAR members were inserted near the hikers, then both subjects and the rescue team were subsequently extracted from the area by hover.
North Shore Rescue was placed on standby in case the operation required a fixed long-line rescue, but was ultimately not called into action.
While all this was happening, LBSAR received a second call for a hiker on the Harvey Trail who had become disoriented and gone off route.
A second team responded in the LBSAR truck, drove up the access road and was able to locate and retrieve the subject.
