Many people head up to hike the Grouse Grind with shoes better suited for shopping -- and while they may be stylish, they won't keep you safe in the back country, according to a local expert.
The first step to safety in B.C.'s hazardous back country is adequate footwear, said Karl Winter of North Shore Search and Rescue.
"You still see the odd person going up with sandals on," said Winter.
Every year in B.C., 1,000 are lost in the back country, and dozens don't make it out alive.
And last weekend, British Columbians saw a prime example of why back country safety should be top of mind.
A woman spent the night alone on Grouse mountain and had to be airlifted to safety after she became lost, confused and dehydrated.
The number one mistake that people make when heading out is thinking that nothing bad can happen to them, said Sandra Ferguson of AdventureSmart.
Experts say that whenever they're heading out, hikers should take ten essential items:
- Flashlight
- Fire making kit
- Whistle
- Food and water
- Clothing
- Map and compass
- First aid kit
- Pocket knife
- Sun protection
- Emergency shelter
Karl Winter made his first rescue when he was 18 years old.
"I figured this is something for me," he said. "I wanted to get into it and I've been doing it ever since."
But he says that 60 per cent of those rescues could have been prevented if people had made the right choices, he said.
With a report from CTV British Columbia's St. John Alexander
