These 11 hikes are considered B.C.'s riskiest: AdventureSmart
Some of the most popular hikes in British Columbia are also the riskiest, says a group geared towards outdoor safety.
B.C. AdventureSmart, which was created with support of the B.C. Search and Rescue Association, wrapped up a four-week series Wednesday, releasing videos of what it says are the 11 riskiest hikes in the province.
Each of the videos, which are seven to 10 minutes long, go through some of the statistics of the trails as well as tips on how hikers can prepare. They also offer detailed looks at each trail, highlighting areas that might be more challenging or where hikers should consider turning around if the route exceeds their experience level.
Sandra Riches, executive director of B.C. AdventureSmart, told CTV News Vancouver when the program launched the list was determined by data collected by search-and-rescue teams. She said the trails aren't "necessarily the most technically difficult routes" but have led to a high number of rescue calls through popularity.
Riches also clarified the risk-level of a hike is actually up to the individual, rather than the trail. In fact, the top reasons for calls made to search and rescue are injury, getting lost and exceeding abilities.
"We have easy access to awesome terrain and it gives people a false sense of security and they don't always plan as much as they would if they were going for an adventure that might take them farther," she said.
The 11 riskiest hikes, listed by video release date and not by their risk level compared to the others, are:
- Stawamus Chief (Squamish)
- Juan De Fuca Trail (southwestern Vancouver Island)
- Eagle Bluffs (North Shore)
- Mount Seymour (North Shore)
- Skywalk South Trail (Whistler)
- Howe Sound Crest Trail (North Shore)
- Golden Ears Summit Trail (Maple Ridge)
- Mount Albert Edward (Strathcona Park)
- Black Tusk (Garibaldi Provincial Park)
- Grouse Grind (video to be released when the trail opens)
- Hanes Valley Trail (video to be released when the trail opens)
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
More than 115 cases of eye damage reported in Ontario after solar eclipse
More than 115 people who viewed the solar eclipse in Ontario earlier this month experienced eye damage after the event, according to eye doctors in the province.
Toxic testing standoff: Family leaves house over air quality
A Sherwood Park family says their new house is uninhabitable. The McNaughton's say they were forced to leave the house after living there for only a week because contaminants inside made it difficult to breathe.
Decoy bear used to catch man who illegally killed a grizzly, B.C. conservation officers say
A man has been handed a lengthy hunting ban and fined thousands of dollars for illegally killing a grizzly bear, B.C. conservation officers say.
B.C. seeks ban on public drug use, dialing back decriminalization
The B.C. NDP has asked the federal government to recriminalize public drug use, marking a major shift in the province's approach to addressing the deadly overdose crisis.
OPP responds to apparent video of officer supporting anti-Trudeau government protestors
The Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) says it's investigating an interaction between a uniformed officer and anti-Trudeau government protestors after a video circulated on social media.
An emergency slide falls off a Delta Air Lines plane, forcing pilots to return to JFK in New York
An emergency slide fell off a Delta Air Lines jetliner shortly after takeoff Friday from New York, and pilots who felt a vibration in the plane circled back to land safely at JFK Airport.
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau on navigating post-political life, co-parenting and freedom
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau says there is 'still so much love' between her and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, as they navigate their post-separation relationship co-parenting their three children.
Last letters of pioneering climber who died on Everest reveal dark side of mountaineering
George Mallory is renowned for being one of the first British mountaineers to attempt to scale the dizzying heights of Mount Everest during the 1920s. Nearly a century later, newly digitized letters shed light on Mallory’s hopes and fears about ascending Everest.
Loud boom in Hamilton caused by propane tank, police say
A loud explosion was heard across Hamilton on Friday after a propane tank was accidentally destroyed and detonated at a local scrap metal yard, police say.