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GPS saves 80-yr-old geocacher

An 80-year-old hiker injured in the backcountry is convalescing, thanks to his use of satellite technology.

An 80-year-old hiker injured in the backcountry is convalescing, thanks to his use of satellite technology.

Members of North Shore Rescue, North Vancouver RCMP and District of North Vancouver Fire and Rescue Services all responded to a sparsely travelled portion of lower Mount Seymour Tuesday afternoon, after RCMP received a notification from an American call centre that a Spot Satellite emergency locator beacon had activated in the bush.

NSR members used the GPS device to pinpoint the location about 200 metres off Mount Seymour Road near the Baden Powell Trail crossing.

"What they found there was an 80-year-old hiker who had injured his ankle and deployed the beacon when he couldn't get out on his own," said Doug Pope, North Shore Rescue search manager.

NSR volunteers and police members carried the man out to the road via stretcher where ambulance paramedics were waiting.

Typically, North Shore Rescue members find themselves responding to subjects who have gotten lost or injured in the backcountry after making some amateur mistakes. That's not the case with the octogenarian geocacher from Burnaby, Pope said.

"It's hard for any member of North Shore rescue to really criticize this guy. He was doing what we all aspire to do when we retire - continue to tromp around in the North Shore forest," Pope said. "He was very well prepared. Ideally, you should travel with a friend, but he was well equipped with his satellite emergency beacon."

With cellular reception spotty in many areas of the backcountry, Pope said anyone who ventures past the treeline should consider getting a GPS beacon, and not relying on their smartphone alone.

"I carry one myself.

They're becoming a lot more prevalent for backcountry users, especially in areas where there isn't cell reception. It's a good way to both check in with your friends and family that you're OK or you can send an SOS," he said.