North Shore Rescue volunteers taxed to limit
Outfit responded to 20 more calls than usual in August
North Shore Rescue volunteers are pleading with people heading into the backcountry to share their plans and take communication devices capable of calling out from remote areas.
"I sound like a broken-record but we need people to leave a detailed trip plan," said Mike Danks, a North Shore Rescue search manager.
"Tell somebody when to call for help and give them all the information we're going to need if that happens."
In August, the volunteer outfit had 29 calls for rescues. That's 20 more than it usually responds to in the month. September seems to have kept pace so far with people getting into distress in remote areas of the North Shore mountains.
- Hiker with no rain jacket rescued
- Richmond couple found after intensive search
- 14 rescues in 14 days
Crews spent a cold Thursday night on the Howe Sound Crest trail looking for a hiker from Oregon, who was eventually located with mild hypothermia.
He had forgotten a rain jacket and couldn't make it to his intended destination in the time he planned for it to take.
Earlier this week, a couple in their 50s from Richmond went missing while on a trail on Mount Seymour and North Shore Rescue says it had very little information to go on in trying to locate the couple.
All the extra work is taking it's toll on rescuers says Danks.
"People are getting injured, and they're very tired from being out all night and then going to work in the morning."
Thank you <a href="https://twitter.com/NSRescue">@NSRescue</a> & <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/lbsar?src=hash">#lbsar</a> for helping with another hiker in distress tonight. Hikers, be prepared for very cold, wet nights. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/wvpdpatrol?src=hash">#wvpdpatrol</a>
—@WestVanPoliceNow Danks is hoping for a respite, but is unlikely to get it as a favourable forecast for the weekend will most likely mean many people out in the backcountry yet again.
"The weather has been fantastic. We encourage people to get out and enjoy the wilderness ... [but] bring the ten essentials," he said.
- Light.
- Signalling device.
- Fire starter.
- Extra clothes.
- Pocketknife.
- Shelter.
- Water and food.
- First-aid kit.
- Navigation tool.
- Communications i.e. cell phone.
A fun hike planned for the service's team leaders this weekend has been postponed so that everyone who volunteers with North Shore Rescue is available to help in case of more calls.
Danks though is clear: the current pace of rescues could seriously hobble the service.
"We're really hoping something can change because at this rate, it's not sustainable going forward," he said.
To hear the full interview listen to the audio labelled North Shore Rescue volunteers taxed to limit with surge in calls with the CBC's Rick Cluff on The Early Edition.