Squamish Search and Rescue deals with back-to-back calls on Stawamus Chief

A helicopter from Blackcomb Helicopters is seen below the Stawamus Chief in this photo shared by Squamish Search and Rescue. (ssarteam / Facebook)

Search and rescue crews were able to airlift an injured climber off the Stawamus Chief in Squamish Friday evening, just before they ran out of daylight.

Squamish Search and Rescue said in a social media post that they were called to Angel’s Crest, a popular multi-pitch route on the Chief, after a climber had sustained a head injury in a fall.

“With daylight fading, time was a significant factor,” the post reads. “A helicopter response was requested, with ground teams preparing in the event aerial access was not possible.”

Blackcomb Helicopters was able to make the flight just in time, airlifting in a Squamish SAR technician and hoisting the climber and her partner to safety, the team said. It added that the subject “was stable on contact.”

Crews did not elaborate on the woman’s injuries or say whether she was taken to hospital.

In an email, B.C. Emergency Health Services told CTV News it was called about a fall at the Chief at 3 p.m. and dispatched one primary care paramedic and one advanced care paramedic to the scene.

“One patient was treated and transported to hospital in a serious but stable condition,” BCEHS said.

According to Squamish SAR, just as crews were being “stood down” on the airlift call, they received a second call on the Chief, this time for lost hikers.

The post concludes by noting that a team was making its way on foot to escort the party down.

CTV News has contacted Squamish SAR for more information on how the second rescue concluded. BCEHS confirmed it did not dispatch any ambulances in response to the second SAR call.