Lost teenagers rescued from North Shore backcountry

Volunteers rescued two teenage hikers from the backcountry behind Mount Seymour on Wednesday, May 20. (Courtesy: North Shore Rescue/Facebook)

Volunteers with North Shore Rescue saved two teenagers behind Mount Seymour last week, after the ill-equipped pair became lost “deep in the backcountry.”

According to the organization, the hikers set off to summit Runner Peak Wednesday, and found it difficult to descend the steep snow slope on the way back.

The teens opted for a different path down, ended up off trail, and eventually began following the Elsay Lake Trail in the wrong direction, North Shore Rescue recounted in a social media post.

“Once they realized they were significantly lost, they used their iPhone emergency satellite SOS feature to call for rescue,” the post reads. “Thankfully, they stayed put, and a NSR helicopter rescue team with Talon Helicopters were able to fly to their location, spot them from the air, and perform a hoist rescue.”

NSR says Runner Peak is a “significant undertaking” and should only be climbed by people with experience and skill. And while there’s still snow on the mountains, the route requires an ice axe and crampons.

“This situation is an excellent example of how a number of errors can compound and result in a very serious situation,” NSR wrote.

The teenagers were not equipped for the hike, meaning they couldn’t use the standard route, leading them to getting lost. They also did not have offline maps downloaded, so when they lost cell service they had no guide.

“This resulted in them heading north rather than south; this took them deeper into the backcountry, away from the parking lot,” the post reads. “This illustrates the need to have your maps (whatever GPS or phone program you use) downloaded for offline use. In the North Shore, cell service disappears very fast the further you get from the trailhead.”

On a more positive note, NSR added the pair had enough battery life left in their phones and satellite SOS capabilities, so rescuers could reach them. They also did the right thing and stayed put to wait for rescue.

The teens flashed a light once the helicopter was nearby, making it easier for the helicopter to spot them.

“These two hikers were lightly equipped and had become wet and cold throughout their ordeal. They were quite cold by the time rescue crews had assembled and were approaching their location,” the organization wrote. “An excellent reminder that all recreationalists should carry, at a minimum, the 10 Essentials with them at all times.”