A sunny day turned into a major rescue

dida

A sunny day turned into a major rescue 🏔️
Two hikers were rescued and hospitalized after a dangerous fall in steep, snowy terrain near Lions Bay on Saturday, and one man was in critical condition when crews reached him.
Lions Bay Search and Rescue says a group of 14 was descending Brunswick Mountain around midday when a woman slipped and slid 10-30 metres before a tree stopped her. Two others tried to get to her, then slid as well, and one man ended up wedged in the snowpack just above a waterfall.
Rescuers brought in two helicopters and a rope system to extract four people. North Shore Rescue says an emergency room doctor was lowered down to the seriously injured man, while Lions Bay rescuers secured the woman, provided first aid, and got her to hospital.
Crews say the snowpack was soaked by last week’s atmospheric river, then froze into a crust, then started melting again, creating brutal footing. They’re warning that this is mountaineering terrain right now, and micro spikes and poles are not enough if you need to self-arrest.

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LBSAR Volunteers responded yesterday afternoon to a callout for two injured hikers on Mount Brunswick. While descending in a group of 14, one hiker fell 20m on steep terrain, a second hiker then lost footing and slid over 100m, stopping in a snow moat above a waterfall. The group had microspikes and poles, which were not sufficient for the icy spring conditions.

The call came in at 1:40 PM and escalated to a mutual aid response with NSR. A total of 22 SAR members responded, 5 from NSR and 17 from LBSAR. Due to the terrain, both patients were accessed via helicopter and technical rope systems. One was hoisted with support from an onboard physician, and the other was reached by inserted members. The remaining hikers were safely escorted out. Both patients were transported to hospital, one stable, one in critical condition.

This incident highlights how terrain and snow conditions can quickly increase the consequences of a slip, especially during transitional spring conditions. In these conditions, mountaineering crampons and an ice axe, along with the training to use them for self-arrest, are required for safe travel. Please assess terrain exposure carefully, not just distance or elevation gain, and to make conservative decisions when conditions are challenging.

Lions Bay SAR extends a special thanks to North Shore Rescue, Talon Helicopters, BC Emergency Health Services, Lions Bay Fire Rescue, Squamish RCMP, and all supporting agencies for their assistance.