Rescue teams issue education plea after tricky rescue on West Vancouver mountain

Rescue teams were called to the aid of a young backcountry skier who had gotten lost on Cypress Mountain, Monday. (Courtesy: North Shore Rescue)

Following the rescue of a lost skier on a West Vancouver mountain Monday night, search and rescue teams are reminding the public to ensure they are adequately educated on mountain safety before they hit the slopes.

A young skier learned some valuable lessons Monday evening after a few simple mistakes resulted in him getting lost in the backcountry and relying on the efforts of North Shore Rescue to aid him during a particularly difficult rescue.

According to a statement delivered on North Shore Rescue’s social media on Tuesday, rescuers were called in after the skier went out of bounds on Cypress Mountain’s Glades run. The rescue got off to a tricky start after the skier’s phone, which had only two per cent battery during the call, died before rescuers were able to determine his location.

As a result, rescue teams were forced to respond with a full team call out, comprising a helicopter rescue, three thermal drones, and members on the ground using skis and snowshoes, to attempt to find him.

“After much searching over many hours, the helicopter team finally spotted some tracks, which the ground teams were then able to locate,” North Shore Rescue said in the statement.

“The ground teams followed these ski (and then boot) tracks down a significant distance in the Montizambert drainage, through thick bush, over and through creek drainage, and down steep slopes.”

Rescuers found the skier “soaking wet, very cold” and with virtually no voice left after his lengthy period of shouting to garner the attention of the teams. The man was given warm fluids, dry clothing and foot traction before North Shore Rescue returned him to the Cypress parking lot, where his family was waiting, via helicopter.

Noting multiple decisions made by the skier that made the rescue particularly difficult, the organization said the incident highlights a number of lessons skiers and snowboarders should keep in mind before attempting to hit such terrain.

The first error on the skier’s part had been his location, North Shore Rescue said.

“This subject went skiing out of bounds of the ski hill. This should never be done,” the statement said.

“While it may seem tempting, essentially all directions out of bounds on our ski hills lead you away from the hill/lifts and into very difficult terrain. Once there, it is all but impossible to bootpack back up the hill.”

The second error the lost skier made was to call the Cypress dispatch for help, as opposed to 911. The latter, said the organization, is able to extract rough coordinates from cell towers and help determine the location of the caller quicker. The phone itself had been another exacerbating factor, said NSR.

“Little information could be communicated with the subject as his cellphone died very quickly after his one and only call,” said North Shore Rescue in the statement, before reminding the public that phone batteries drain much quicker when in cold weather. Keeping cell phones off or in airplane mode until needed, and carrying an extra battery charging pack, are essential tips to keep in mind when preparing for mountain adventure, the statement added.

Following the call, the skier had continued to travel further down the hill rather than waiting for rescuers to locate him. North Shore Rescue said this is “never a good idea,” especially in that particular area.

“Our mountains get progressively steeper the further down you get, and the terrain sucks you into gullies that typically contain cliffs and waterfalls,” the statement said, adding that the area where the man was located has been the scene of a number of fatalities over the years.

“If you are lost, your best strategy is to stay put and wait for rescue,” the statement said.

“Continuing to move only puts you at risk, and exponentially increases the search area that will have to be covered.”