Hiking Tips from LBSAR
- kc dyer
- Aug 4
- 3 min read
Updated: 7 days ago
Top essentials plus the best choice in apps
Well-prepared hikers may already know to head out carrying the ten essentials.
But Lions Bay Search and Rescue (LBSAR) member Maria Masiar notes that three particular items often mean the difference between a successful hike out and an emergency — a cell phone, a headlamp and a spare battery pack.
It's the height of hiking season at the moment, and local parking lots are jammed with trekkers ready to head for the hills. But even the best-prepared hikers can have something go wrong.
In July, LBSAR spent the night searching for a hiker who became separated from her group. After she was discovered to be missing, and communication with her was unsuccessful, members of the group made the decision to call for help.
"When a missing hiker is known to have a phone, the team has to make some tough decisions," said Masiar. "In that case, we couldn't figure out why she hadn't triggered an SOS on her phone. Was she unconscious? Was she perfectly fine, and not in need of help?"
Masiar said the team decided to err on the side of caution, and triggered a night search, with a helicopter. The search was unsuccessful, but had a happy ending when the hiker managed to walk herself out near Porteau Cove.
A spare battery pack would have meant that the hiker's companions would not have lost contact in the first place.
Masiar says that having a good hiking app on your phone can also be a life-saver.
Earlier this month, an injured hiker was pulled off the mountain by helicopter was part of a group who showed the LBSAR team they had taken their hiking instructions from Google Maps.
"Google Maps is a poor backcountry planning tool," says Masiar. "It was built to navigate roads and city streets, not mountain terrain."
She notes that Google Maps doesn't tell you:
Actual elevation gain
Current trail conditions, snow, washouts, or other hazards
Whether the route involves scrambling or technical terrain
Physical effort or rating
Realistic hiking times based on mountain terrain
Masiar adds that a route that appears to be "just 18 kilometres" on Google Maps can actually be an all-day alpine objective.
Instead, Masiar recommends hikers have updated apps on their phones. Brand names include AllTrails, Granite, Gaia GPS and Avenza, all of which have free versions available.
Her number one choice is AllTrails, and LBSAR have recently taken over some of the behind-the-scenes management of the app.
"This means we have administrative access to all the routes," Masiar explained. "We can post hazards for everything from newly identified wasps nests to snow hazards."
With the free version of AllTrails, hikers can read recent trail condition reports, see actual elevation and difficulty ratings as well as have access to comments about snow, downed trees, creek crossings and route issues.
However, Masiar reminds hikers that a map is only one part of planning, noting that even the best hiking app can't replace good judgement.
"Before heading into the back-country, you need to check the weather and the elevation gain, carry the essentials, including enough food and water, start early, and know when to turn around."
While there are plans in the works to add further information for hikers both online and on the ground, Masiar says it all comes down to good preparation, including carrying the three essentials of phone, battery pack and headlamp.
Read more at the LBSAR website HERE.
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