A group of teenagers aiming to catch the sunset on a mountain east of Lions Bay, B.C., and hike down in the darkness with only cellphone lights had to be rescued early Monday morning, according to a local search team. Lions Bay Search and Rescue said members were called just after 10 p.m. with reports that four hikers aged 15 to 19 were stranded in the mountains unprepared, hiking to Mount Unnecessary with nothing but hoodies, sweatpants, and cell phone lights. LBSAR volunteer Maria Masiar told CTV News the 15.6-kilometre trek to Mount Unnecessary includes 1,122 metres of elevation gain and is rated “Hard” on a hiking app called AllTrails. “The estimated hiking time is 5–7 hours, although actual travel time depends heavily on fitness, terrain, route-finding and breaks,” she said. In a social media post, LBSAR staff wrote that Sunday was “not a night to be unprepared in the mountains,” referring to rain warnings in the region. “At this time of year, hypothermia is a very real concern. Temperatures at higher elevations are already approaching freezing overnight,” the post reads. Search and rescue staff said the hikers’ location was hard to pinpoint at first. “When we spoke with their families, we heard that they were planning to go to Whistler... but maybe their car was at Park Royal. Informants said they were by the West Lion; finally, a GPS pin put them somewhere north of Mount Unnecessary,” they explained. “Nobody at home really knew where they were. Their families simply didn’t know what the actual plan was.” LBSAR eventually learned the group started hiking from the Cypress Parking lot at around 2 p.m., called for help from an area north of Mount Unnecessary after eight hours, The teenagers luckily found a couple camping nearby who helped them start a campfire and warmed them up with sleeping bags, staff said. LBSAR said the hikers were extracted at 1:45 a.m., but staff stressed the importance of doing your due diligence before going on a hike and following what they call the three Ts: trip planning, training, and taking the essentials. “The group had planned their trip largely using information they found on social media. They intended to navigate using AllTrails, watch the sunset, and then use the flashlights on their phones to make their way back down after dark,” staff wrote. “This is a combination we strongly discourage.” Masiar stressed the importance of parents knowing where their children are hiking as well. As she explained, “we wouldn’t hand a teenager the keys to a car and tell them to figure out driving on the highway as they go.” “We teach them the rules, give them the necessary skills and gradually increase their responsibility as they gain experience. The alpine deserves the same respect,” she said. “When teenagers are beginning to explore the backcountry independently, parents can help teach them how to plan a trip, understand the terrain and weather, carry the right equipment and leave a proper trip plan behind.”
