Passing motorist starts the ball rolling
Lions Bay Search and Rescue (LBSAR) had a double header (and almost a triple play) on Saturday.
LBSAR team leader Brent Calkin reports that a motorist who had stopped near the Archer Point pullout on Highway 99 heard faint calls for help coming from the cliffs that line the top of the highway. The motorist called 911 to report hearing the female voice, and LBSAR was dispatched.
As a team of three attempted to reach the stranded hiker via the power line cut, a second call came in for two hikers stranded atop Mount Brunswick.
A second team was dispatched with the Talon helicopter, only to find unexpected weather atop the Brunswick summit bridge.
"The mountain top was creating its own weather pattern, with a sticky cloud forming and reforming in a flow of condensing air over the ridge," says Calkin, noting that visibility was reduced as a result.
The pilot and crew determined a hover rescue would be possible, and the team headed into the mist to the designated spot.
Back down by the highway, the ground team located the hiker, and managed to escort her safely down through the rugged terrain without resorting to a rope rescue on the cliff face.
On Mount Brunswick, rescuers located the pair of stranded young men, one of whom was suffering severe leg cramps. The subjects were assessed, and the condition of the stricken hiker improved after fellow hikers along the trail shared their electrolytic drinks and salty snacks.
"The hikers were briefed on helicopter safety, equipped with goggles and helmets, and quickly lifted off the Brunswick col, before lowering temperatures caused further thickening of Brunswick’s little toque of cloud cover," said Calkin.
As the teams collected for a de-briefing, a third call came in from the Emergency Command Centre, reporting an overdue female hiker.
"To everyone’s relief," said Calkin, "the name of the overdue hiker just happened to be the same as the woman we had just rescued." He added that the day was still an easier go for LBSAR than the four rescue calls of last weekend.
LBSAR provides rescue services without question or charge. Donations to help replace equipment and gear can be made HERE.
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