Hikers rescued from snowy North Shore trail that has seen 'a number of fatalities': SAR
Two hikers who got lost in the snowy backcountry Saturday are lucky to be alive, according to North Shore Rescue.
"No exaggeration there whatsoever," says Mike Danks, team lead.
Crews were called to the Hanes Valley Trail – which is closed for the season due to dangerous conditions – with just 75 minutes of daylight left.
"Typically, you are not getting a cell signal there at all," Danks says.
"It turned out the two individuals were not injured. But they were in, potentially, an avalanche area there, there's still quite a bit of snow back there. "
Because there have been a "number of fatalities" in this area, mostly among people who found themselves lost in the snow after dark, Danks says rescuers’ strategy is to get a helicopter up in the air as soon as possible.
The two hikers were able to stay in contact with the rescue crew by text message, and were flown to safety.
But Danks says their experience is an object lesson in the dangers in the backcountry as the seasons change. Spring-like weather on the ground or in the city can make it easy to forget what’s in store at higher elevations, Danks explains.
"We want to stress to people that it's still winter conditions in the mountains," he says.
"We really encourage people to stick to the trails that are open. The ones that are closed are closed for a reason. When you're going out in these conditions, you need to be prepared for these conditions."
Preparation includes having extra layers of warm clothing, proper hiking boots, crampons, micro-spikes, and an ice axe. Knowing when the sun is going to set is also key, as many people find themselves in danger as soon as it gets dark.
Above all, Danks says it's vital to have a way to communicate if help is needed.
"We really want to stress to people to make sure you have a charged cellphone. Also, if you're going into a trail that's a bit more remote, have a satellite device. It can save a life."
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING Princess Anne sustains injuries and concussion in an 'incident,' Buckingham Palace says
Buckingham Palace says Princess Anne has sustained minor injuries and concussion following an incident on the Gatcombe Park estate on Sunday.
This is what the heat wave was like in one of Canada's densest neighbourhoods
This is what it was like in a Toronto neighbourhood where 30,000 people live during a scorching heat wave.
This U.S. company is selling products with human fecal matter to Canadians. What does Health Canada think about it?
The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued a warning letter to a company appearing to sell products containing human fecal matter without approval from the agency.
At least 16 dead in a fire at a lithium battery factory in South Korea
A fire at a lithium battery manufacturing factory near South Korea's capital on Monday left at least 16 people dead, seven injured and six missing, officials said.
Is Trump shielded from criminal charges as an ex-president? A nation awaits word from U.S. Supreme Court
In the coming days, the U.S. Supreme Court will confront a perfect storm mostly of its own making: a trio of decisions stemming directly from the Jan. 6, 2021 attack on the U.S. Capitol.
Hawaii lifeguard dies in shark attack while surfing off Oahu
A professional lifeguard died after he was attacked by a shark while surfing off the island of Oahu in Hawaii on Sunday afternoon, authorities said.
Researchers have found a 'clear genetic trigger for obesity' that applies to some people
Experts have long known there is a genetic component to obesity, and a new study identified one particular gene that may be behind it.
Canada to announce tariff plan for Chinese EV, battery imports following U.S., Europe
Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland is expected to announce this morning a plan for potential tariffs to protect Canada's electric vehicle supply chain from unfair Chinese competition.
Ottawa MP apologizes for mailing map to constituents missing a province and a territory
Ottawa Centre MP Yasir Naqvi is apologizing for a mistake on a map of Canada sent to constituents to celebrate Canada Day.