Injured hiker saved from what could have been ‘quite a bad situation’: North Shore Rescue

An injured hiker is lifted into a helicopter above Mount Seymour on Monday, Sept. 15. (Courtesy: North Shore Rescue/Facebook)

Search and rescue volunteers say an ill-equipped hiker who got injured on a North Vancouver mountain Monday could have ended up in “quite a bad situation” under different circumstances.

Crews were called out in the late morning for a medical rescue on the Elsay Lake trail on Mount Seymour, according to North Shore Rescue.

The route is described as a “challenging and technical day or multi-day hike” on outdoor website AllTrails.

NSR said the hiker became disoriented while descending Pump Peak and ended up on the Elsay trail by accident, where he suffered a “lower body injury” that prevented him from moving further.

“Very fortunately, he had cell reception and was able to get a 911 call out,” the rescue organization wrote in a social media post.

A helicopter was sent but heavy clouds initially prevented it from accessing the area, so searchers were also deployed by foot.

Luckily, the clouds eventually cleared, and the helicopter was able to bring the hiker to the Capilano Search and Rescue Station, where he was handed off to paramedics.

The organization noted that the hiker was from out-of-town, staying in an Airbnb, and the only person who “had a general idea” he was going hiking was not in the region.

“Had he not been able to get a 911 call out, it would have likely taken an extended period of time before anyone knew he was missing, and it would have likely been a lengthy search for us to find him once the alarm was eventually raised,” NSR wrote, and reminded anyone going into the backcountry to leave behind a detailed trip plan.

Rescuers added the individual had “essentially no gear.”

“If our helicopter hadn’t been able to reach him, (he) would have likely been hypothermic by the time our ground crews could get on scene,” the post reads. “Had he needed to spend an extended period in the wilderness while lost and immobilized…he would have been in quite a bad situation.”

NSR reminded hikers to always bring the “10 essentials,” not just what’s required for their trip but supplies needed in case something goes wrong.

The organization reiterated it does not mean to shame people by sharing “lessons learned” from its rescues, but in hopes of preventing similar incidents in the future.