A missed step, a dead cellphone, a little bad luck or a lot of inexperience are all it takes to turn a walk in the North Shore's back country into a dangerous situation.
For nearly 50 years North Shore Rescue has been pulling wayward weekend warriors out of the wilderness, but many hikers, climbers and adventurers continue to disregard potentially life-saving safety tips.
In June, an experienced climber was in Lynn Headwaters Regional Park when he lost his grip and fell 20 metres, sustaining cuts and bruises.
After calling for help on his cellphone, the climber was located by North Shore Rescue members, who performed a long-line helicopter rescue and transported him to an ambulance. The situation could have been a lot worse, says team leader Tim Jones.
"He's lucky he didn't knock himself unconscious and/or lose his cellphone," says Jones.
A delay in contacting North Shore Rescue could have meant a search for a body instead of a rescue mission, according to Jones, who recommends hiking in pairs or groups.
"Even if you're just doing a trail walk locally, you should be letting someone know where you went, just in case," he says.
Heading up the mountain alone is one mistake rescuers run into on a regular basis. Planning the right route can also be essential. Cellphones and GPS systems are useful tools, but certainly not foolproof, says Jones.
"We had an incident recently where the co-ordinates were given to the RCMP that put this hiker at Lynn Creek, and he was on Lynn Peak," says Jones, who encourages lost hikers to contact North Shore Rescue as early as possible.
"People will still phone their friends for two hours and waste their battery," says Jones, adding that stranded hikers often have about 15 minutes worth of battery left on their cellphone by the time North Shore Rescue gets involved.
While North Shore Rescue frequently comes to the aid of skiers and hikers who find themselves in remote areas, rescuers also head to the Grouse Grind on a regular basis. "Every night we're either escorting people up or down," says Jones.
One night in early June North Shore Rescue volunteers found 100 hikers scattered throughout the Grind after closing time. Many head to the grind without knowing the extent of the physical trial they're undertaking, says Jones.
"The Grind has its own challenges," he says. "You have to be fit enough and well hydrated."
Other common mistakes include failing to account for colder weather at the top and forgetting to bring cash for the ride down. Jones also recommends wearing proper hiking boots on any back country excursion, as ankle sprains are a frequent problem.
