Latest news with #NorthShoreRescue
Hamilton Spectator
2 days ago
- Health
- Hamilton Spectator
North Shore Rescue brings in helicopter to assist injured teen
An injured hiker needed some help from above after hurting her leg on a steep trail in the West Vancouver backcountry Sunday afternoon. North Shore Rescue received a call just before noon Sunday from B.C. Ambulance reporting a 15-year-old teenager sprained her left ankle after a slip on a large rock hiking up to St. Mark's Summit along the Howe Sound Crest Trail in Cypress Provincial Park. Volunteers used a Talon helicopter to find the teen on the trail, where she was stranded with her mother and relatives. 'It was sore enough that she wasn't able to walk on it, so it's best not to aggravate it,' said search manager Don Jardine. 'If you're feeling that much pain, it's better to call for help.' After rescue crews found the injured hiker, two volunteers hoisted down to place her into the aircraft. From there, crews flew to the search and rescue team's Capilano Gate station so an ambulance could take her to Lions Gate Hospital. St. Mark's Summit is one of the viewpoints along the Howe Sound Trail, a 26-kilometre hike spanning from Cypress Bowl to Porteau Cove above the Sea to Sky Highway. 'It's easy to have a slip, it's fairly steep,' Jardine said. 'There's still a little bit of snow in places, and because it's melting, there's a bit of mud. There's lots of slippery roots and rocks.' In a social media post , the search and rescue team said Sunday's call highlights how quickly plans can change in the backcountry. Jardine urged people to be careful with their footing while hiking, going with a group and bringing equipment like hiking poles. 'I find hiking poles are really advantageous because you're getting four points of contact rather than just two, and if you do slip, they can stop you from twisting your ankle,' he said. 'It's a popular hike, there are a lot of people going there and it can get quite hot in the summer,' Jardine added. 'So go early and bring lots of water.' North Shore Rescue also shared in the post other recent calls they have responded to, including a tourist stuck near Eagle Bluffs after running out of water and trying to navigate steep terrain with a phone map, a solo hiker who slipped along the BCMC Trail on Grouse Mountain , a helicopter hoist operation for four teenagers on Mount Fromme who become stranded in steep terrain after leaving the trail trying to descend to Mountain Highway, and a fatal motor vehicle crash near Norrish Creek with an overnight helicopter search . After the recent calls, the search and rescue team offered a number of safety tips such as using backcountry specific apps like Gaia or AllTrails and downloading the map ahead of time, as Google Maps is not always reliable in remote terrain. Also if a hiker leaves the trail, do not keep heading downhill, but return to known ground if safe. Abby Luciano is the Indigenous and civic affairs reporter for the North Shore News. This reporting beat is made possible by the Local Journalism Initiative . Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .
Global News
11-07-2025
- Global News
Get outside, but get home safe: B.C. search-and-rescue teams make summer warning
The weather is heating up, you've got some days booked off, it feels like the perfect time to get out and explore British Columbia's natural splendor. That's great, says the province's search-and-rescue community; just make sure you've got a plan to get home in one piece. 'Not everyone knows how to reach their destination safely, and I'll remind everybody that their destination is home,' said Sandra Riches, executive director of B.C. AdventureSmart. 'Because the peak, the river, that trail, is only halfway. You still have to turn around and come back.' 1:09 Day 3 of search for 20-year-old hiker missing near Shannon Falls Calls to B.C. search-and-rescue teams always surge with the summer season, and while the numbers are about on par for previous years, there have been some tough deployments already this year. Story continues below advertisement On Canada Day, 20-year-old Alex Nguyen vanished near Shannon Falls while hiking, prompting a massive search. Days later, police called off the effort with Nguyen still missing. Last month, a vehicle was swept into the Squamish River, and while three people were able to escape, a fourth 24-year-old man was never located. 'Although it's been an average sort of call volume, we've had some significant calls involving serious injuries and fatalities, it's been one of the worst seasons so far for our team in terms of that,' North Shore Rescue search manager Doug Pope said. Get breaking National news For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen. Sign up for breaking National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy 'We all think about it almost on a daily basis, the ones we haven't been able to find.' Squamish Search and Rescue is on track for about 140 call-outs this year, near the top end of its annual average. From rock climbers to mountain bikers and throngs of hikers exploring the Stawamus Chief, search manager Tyler Duncan said there's often one common thread. 1:39 B.C. rescue squad warns about hazards of even 'easy' trails 'A lot of our standard 'lost hikers' calls are for people that are, shall we say, less than prepared and don't know the area well,' he said, adding that many trails move quickly out of cell phone reception. Story continues below advertisement 'It is very important for people to understand that what might appear to be a very simple hike or a very simple walk, even, might take a long time to get a message out.' Pope has been working search and rescue for 21 years, and says he's seen call volumes climb every year. With the explosion in popularity of outdoor activities, the rapid growth in population of the Lower Mainland and an increase in tourism, he said the numbers just keep pushing higher. 'Some trails that I used to see three or four people on a Saturday morning on I am seeing 300 or 400,' he said. Some outdoor experts in part of the blame on social media, where posts may share breathtaking views without capturing the difficulty or even danger involved in reaching them. The B.C. Search and Rescue Association is hoping to use the same technology to help educate would-be backcountry adventurers, and to help prevent them from becoming statistics. Hikers have long been urged to ensure they pack the 10 essentials on any adventure. 0:26 B.C. teen dead after falling while hiking in Lions Bay area But search crews are now publishing videos walking recreators through specific trails which detail potential hazards in the hopes hikers will be better prepared, whether it be their footwear or the amount of time they give themselves for the trip. Story continues below advertisement 'Social media can be a benefit if you know where to go and use us as that resource, as that reliable resource, knowing that we're using the data from the search and rescue calls to work with industry to provide the right resources,' Riches said. 'It's great because you're trained, you're skilled, you have abilities, you know what to do in an emergency, you know how to communicate, and you've got all your ducks in order.' Riches said data shows that the vast majority of calls — 95 per cent — involve locals, not tourists, and as a result they've been crafting tools targeted at that audience. Duncan, meanwhile, said there's room for everyone in the backcountry as long as they're prepared, and they don't try and bite off more than they can chew. 'Work your way up to some of the bigger hikes,' he said. 'Your first day in the mountains shouldn't be trying to attempt the Tantalus traverse, it's one of the most technical mountaineering routes in B.C. — but there are lots of opportunities to develop up to those sorts of adventures.'
CTV News
02-07-2025
- General
- CTV News
B.C. rescue team says bystanders ‘saved young man's life' in near-drowning incident
North Shore Rescue says it was dispatched to a possible drowning at Cabin Lake in Cypress Provincial Park on July 1, 2025. (CTV News) Search-and-rescue crews are praising the actions of three bystanders who reportedly saved a man from drowning Tuesday in the West Vancouver backcountry. North Shore Rescue says it was dispatched to a possible drowning at Cabin Lake in Cypress Provincial Park, the same lake where a 29-year-old man drowned while swimming with his fiancée just two weeks earlier. The volunteer rescue group says its members arrived by helicopter Tuesday evening to find the swimmer had already been rescued from the water. '(The) swimmer began to have trouble and was going under the water when three bystanders jumped in and saved this person's life,' North Shore Rescue said in a statement on social media. The man was assessed at the scene by the rescuers, including one who is an emergency room doctor. 'Due to the issues surrounding the near-drowning, the subject could not hike out,' the statement said. The swimmer was hoisted out of the area by helicopter and brought back to the parking lot to be transported to the hospital. 'We would like to commend and thank the three bystanders who jumped in and pulled him to safety,' North Shore Rescue said. 'The actions these people took saved this young man's life.'
Vancouver Sun
21-06-2025
- Sport
- Vancouver Sun
Kelowna man breaks record for Grouse Grind Challenge, Burnaby competitor wins women's division
A Kelowna man has broken the record for the most Grouse Grind climbs in a one-day period. Sean Green completed 21 ascents between 4 a.m. and after 10 p.m., winning the overall challenge and surpassing the previous record by two ascents, according to a news release from Grouse Mountain. It was a close race with previous record-holder James Stewart completing 20 ascents and breaking his 19-ascent record. Fion Chen from Burnaby won the women's category with 17 ascents. The ninth annual Grouse Grind Challenge was held on the Summer Solstice on Friday, with 66 men and 34 women competing. Start your day with a roundup of B.C.-focused news and opinion. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder. The next issue of Sunrise will soon be in your inbox. Please try again Interested in more newsletters? Browse here. The event is part of the mountain's race series, including the Seek the Peak and the Grouse Grind Mountain Run, and also serves as a fundraiser for the North Shore Rescue service. More than $100,000 has been raised so far this year. Emily Leak, a spokesperson for Grouse Mountain Resort, said more than $46,000 was raised from this latest event for NSR. The Grouse Grind is a 2.5-kilometre trail up the face of Grouse Mountain, often referred to as Mother Nature's StairMaster. ticrawford@ With files from J.J. Adams
CTV News
20-06-2025
- Sport
- CTV News
SAR member takes on big Grouse Grind challenge
Vancouver Watch Athletes took on the annual multi-Grouse Grind challenge to raise funds for North Shore Rescue Friday.
