Coquitlam Search and Rescue volunteers spent their long weekend rescuing a group of hikers from Golden Ears Park.
The team was called out to assist Ridge Meadows SAR after 4:30 p.m. on Saturday for a medical rescue near Evans Peak, a steep, 12-km round-trip trail. A group of four hikers had been ascending the peak when one fell off a small cliff and rolled down a snow slope.
"There's a steep section above a caul and this time of year it gets a lot of melting and freezing in the snowpack," said Coquitlam SAR spokesperson Michael Coyle. "Locally we had quite a dramatic rainfall quite high up, which creates an ice crust and that also contributes to people slipping and falling."
Three members of Coquitlam SAR's long-line rescue team responded via helicopter from the Town Centre fire hall helipad, while another 10 volunteers responded via vehicle.
Two helicopter techs, including Tom Zajac, a critical care paramedic, secured the injured hiker who was then slung out and transferred to the BC Ambulance Service Air Ambulance and flown to Royal Columbian Hospital.
The other hikers were also slung out in two additional loads because of the late hour, Coyle said, adding such incidents often leave the other members of a group shaken so it's usually safest to bring everyone out via helicopter.
With more good weather on the horizon, Coyle encouraged others to get outside and enjoy the natural surroundings — carefully.
"This time of year it's still winter, no matter how warm it is down here it's still many degrees colder on the mountain," he said. "There will be snow until June and the snow will be icy and it will slow you down. Anybody travelling up high will be moving very slowly."
The first signs of spring often mean an uptick in calls to SAR groups, he added, whether it's people slipping and falling or hikers who discover the slow going in the snow hasn't left them with enough time to make their descent, or they've missed the trail because it's buried under the snow.
"It can be quite warm and tempting but the snow really causes problems for people," Coyle said, emphasizing the need to practise proper backcountry safety at this time of year.
Coquitlam SAR was called again on Sunday morning, again to assist Ridge Meadows SAR, this time for an overdue group heading to the Upper Pitt River hot springs north of Pitt Lake.
Volunteers were quickly sent back home again, however, when it turned out the boaters were experiencing engine trouble and were being towed back to Grant Narrows by another boater.
VOLUNTEER RECRUITMENT
Coquitlam Search and Rescue is recruiting for up to six new volunteer positions and the deadline for applications is fast approaching.
Volunteers will be part of a group that responds to about 30 to 40 incidents a year including lost hikers, children and the elderly, those with dementia, boaters, mountain bikers and more. Their search area ranges from Indian Arm to Pitt Lake, the Fraser River and Garibaldi Park.
Once applications are reviewed up to 20 candidates will be selected for a mandatory evaluation hike on Saturday, April 16, followed by a round of interviews.
Winning candidates will become members in training for one year before becoming full members.
Applications and additional details are available on the group's website, www.coquitlam-sar.bc.ca.
The deadline is March 31.
