Not 24 hours after a public memorial for North Shore Rescue's former team leader Tim Jones, the team was back in the mountains carrying out a rescue led by Jones' son Curtis.
North Shore Rescue volunteers got a page from North Vancouver RC MP around 5:30 p.m., Sunday, reporting a group of eight hikers lost on Grouse Mountain.
The group, ranging from age 10 to adulthood, were planning to climb either the now-closed Grouse Grind or BCMC trail to Grouse Mountain's skating pond, skates in hand, but they left completely unprepared.
With no map, no knowledge of the trail conditions and only one light for the entire group, the hikers quickly got off trail and wound up going east on the Baden Powell before ending up in rough terrain near Mosquito Creek and calling for help.
"They were not up for what they had gotten themselves into by any means. I think it was a matter of not knowing and not doing the proper research before heading out," said Doug Pope, search manager. "We told them to stay put and got a team together, led
by Curtis Jones, who went in and got them out safely."
Carrying out the rescue was a significant milestone for the team, still reeling from Jones' death a week earlier.
"We were proud. We all had a difficult week. We were anticipating the first call we would get after losing our leader with some trepidation but it was good to get back in the saddle at the same time and the rescue was pulled off efficiently and effectively. It was extra special in that Curtis led the team in and brought the people out," Pope said.
