Inexperience, fading daylight, and snowy terrain contributed to two hikers getting lost on a popular Mount Seymour trail Tuesday night.
The hikers, a Coquitlam man in his 40s and a German woman in her 30s, were rescued later that evening by North Shore Rescue. The hikers had set off late in the afternoon on Dog Mountain trail before becoming lost in the dark after turning around near the halfway mark.
Doug Pope of North Shore Rescue described Dog Mountain as a difficult hike in winter conditions and said the hikers were not properly prepared.
“We found them 600 metres west of the Dog Mountain trailhead,” said Pope. “They were very cold. It was zero degrees and raining and sleet and they were not properly dressed for the conditions.”
Pope said the pair were uninjured but relieved to see the 12-member field team. “They were definitely happy to see us. They were cold and mildly hypothermic,” he said.
Pope said that hikers need to come prepared, especially when faced with current winter conditions in the North Shore mountains.
“Poles, microspikes, or crampons were needed that day,” he said, citing the hikers’ lack of supplies.
Hikers should remember to bring the 10 essentials whenever starting a trail. These include a flashlight or headlamp, whistle, extra clothing, fire starter, plastic bag or thermal tarp for shelter, water and food, first-aid kit, compass or GPS and cellphone.
