Plan ahead and be prepared

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Lost Coquitlam hikers rescued from Buntzen Lake Park

2 women went hiking Tuesday, but got lost and were not prepared for night in backcountry

By Mike Laanela, CBC News Posted: Mar 19, 2014 6:23 AM PT Last Updated: Mar 19, 2014 5:38 PM PT       

Buntzen Lake Park hikers rescued 2:11
       
Rescue underway for teens lost in Coquitlam backcountry       

Two young women who got lost in the Buntzen Lake area near Port Moody, B.C. on Tuesday afternoon hiked out to safety this

morning after they were located by a search and rescue team.

The cousins, Andrea Motz, 24 and Megan Schulz, 22, spent a cold, wet and unexpected night in the park after getting lost in

the deep snow in the mountains while on a day hike on Tuesday afternoon.

They used a cellphone to call for help around 6 p.m. Searchers first tried to reach the pair by helicopter, but were

prevented from flying in because of the poor weather.

So instead, volunteers from the Coquitlam Search and Rescue team hiked in and found the pair around 3 a.m. PT Wednesday.
Coquitlam Search and Rescue

A volunteer member of the Coquitlam Search and Rescue team tracks the rescue effort from the command vehicle. (CBC)

The women were not dressed or equipped for a night outside in the wilderness, and by the time rescuers reached them they

were too cold, wet and tired to hike out themselves.

So instead the SAR team set up a camp, and they all spent the night resting so they could hike out in the morning.

When the rescue team and the women reached the parking lot at 11 a.m., the pair were meet by anxious family members.

Despite appearing wet and tired, they still had smiles on their faces as they downed some hot coffee.

Initial reports indicated the lost hikers were older teens, but it was later revealed the pair are cousins in their early 20s.

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Coquitlam February 3, 2014 6:18 am

Brothers rescued from Eagle Mountain

By Paula Baker         Global News

Coquitlam Search and Rescue located two brothers who got lost on Eagle Mountain on February 2, 2014.


Two teenage brothers were found safe after getting lost on Eagle Mountain in Coquitlam last night.

The 16 and 18-year-olds were hiking in the area of Cypress Lake when they lost the trail marker. The teen hikers didn’t have

a flashlight with them and called for help when darkness set in.

More than a dozen members from Coquitlam Search and Rescue were called in to help and crews were ultimately able to make

cell contact with the boys.

Searchers located the brothers close to 11 p.m. and both are said to be a good shape.

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Ten Essentials

The essential items that can make the difference

Many people who have an outdoor misadventure quickly point out that having and using the 10 essentials allowed them to survive. The traditional list of the 10 essentials presented below has been modernized into basic groups of supplies you should carry at all times.

1.    Flashlight and spare batteries
    If you take just a little too long on a hike and are caught by darkness, it can get really dark under the trees. We’ve found people who only got lost after dark and could not stay on the trail. Some of these people even hurt themselves after falling once they left the trail. One small flashlight can make the difference between coming home late, and being injured in the dark.
2.   Extra Food and Water
    If you’re delayed by weather, a little food and water can make an uncomfortable situation much better, and water can be the difference between life and death. You’re less likely to panic, and it allows you to think clearer so you don’t turn a little mistake into a big one.
3.   Extra clothing (rain, wind, water protection)
    It can get cold in the mountains at night, just a few hundred feet in elevation makes a difference. Even a jacket and a hat can help keep much warmer.
4.   Navigational Aids (map, compass, altimeter, GPS, chart, radio, mobile phone)
    Without (at the very least) a map, a compass and the knowledge of how to use them, you’re really at the mercy of whoever built the trail you are on. Without markers and sign posts, a map is the only way to tell where you are. GPS units take this to the next level, but always have the map as a backup.
5.   Fire Starter
    Fire offers warmth, and can signal rescuers in an emergency. Matches, lighter, a candle and some dry tinder is all it takes.
6.   First Aid Kit
    A small accident can be a big problem if you have nothing to treat it with, having the equipment and the training is important.
7.   Emergency Shelter
    Something as simple as a large orange garbage bag can become an emergency shelter; tear a hole in it and put it over your head and you have a waterproof place to sit. It sounds crazy, but if you want to be more high tech you can buy mylar safety blankets that do the same thing, or any number of other products. They weigh ounces and are tiny, and they sit in your kit until you need them.
8.   Sun Protection
    The sun is a force to be reckoned with. Without sun protection, burns and sun stroke are almost certain on a sunny day, even more so in the middle of winter. Sunscreen, a hat and sunglasses might seem like a good idea at sea level, but in the mountains they are essential equipment.
9.    Pocket knife
    This useful item can make tent pegs, whittle wood for a fire, cut rope and hundreds of other things that can help you survive.
10.   Repair Kit
    A small thing like a broken binding on a snowshoe can make a huge difference in travel time and effort. Being able to make simple repairs can save your life.