Two hikers are safe and sound after getting lost late Tuesday evening in a treacherous section of trail north of Grouse Mountain.
At around 10 p.m., North Shore Rescue received a call about the lost hikers. Fortunately, North Vancouver RCMP were able to ping their phones for an approximate location.
The hikers were able to get a call out for help, but their devices had since stopped functioning, said search manager Dave Barnett.
Talon Helicopter’s Dauphin aircraft, with night vision and hoist capabilities, was dispatched with a rescue crew. But conditions weren’t favourable, with cloud cover obscuring the area.
One advantage in the search was the hikers' had headlamps, which made spotting them with night vision goggles much easier, Barnett said.
After locating the stranded civilians in a steep, slippery section of the Hanes Valley boulder field, three NSR members were deployed below where the hikers were resting.
They were uninjured but cold and extremely tired, Barnett said.
“At least one had no more physical energy,” he said. “They would have been out there all night. They had minimal clothing and no overnight gear.”
Don't attempt difficult hikes without knowledge of the area, search manager says
The hikers told rescuers that they were descending from Crown Mountain and thought that the Hanes Valley would be a better route than returning to the Grouse Mountain area. That proved to be a mistake.
“Hanes Valley is a very difficult hike that should only be attempted by experienced, fit hikers with satellite communication devices,” Barnett said. “Because with typical cell phones, you’re not able to communicate in there.”
Ultimately, the rescue crew determined that the hikers weren’t able to make it out on foot, and were hoisted out by the Talon helicopter.
By 3:30 a.m., the operation ended with the aircraft returning the hikers and rescue crew to NSR’s Capilano Gate rescue base.
With the turn in weather, lowering the temperature and bringing in cloud cover, the hikers were very lucky to get out, Barnett said.
For other adventurers planning to attempt difficult hikes like Crown Mountain or Hanes Valley – and not end up in the hands of rescue crews – Barnett recommends starting early.
“Be familiar with the area. These guys were not familiar with the Hanes area,” he said. “Tell someone where you’re going, and be prepared for where you’re going.”
