Lions Bay Search and Rescue have safely rescued two lost and ill equipped hikers in the Harvey Basin area.
Late on Sunday, Lions Bay SAR was called out to locate and extract the hikers who had missed a turn off to the Lions Trail and continued on up the Harvey Basin trail until they eventually lost that trail in the snow covered Alder.
The hikers were able to get cell coverage and were able to relay their rough location to the rescue team.
Things could have turned out much worse, Lions Bay SAR says.
The men had not left a trip plan, not told anyone where they were going, and wore completely inappropriate clothing, especially footwear, had no flashlight, and did not backtrack and retrace their steps after they lost the trail.
“Had they not been located last night, we are doubtful that the outcome would have been so good,” the group said.
They were wearing dark camouflaged clothing, but were luckily spotted from the air and two teams were quickly dropped off on a nearby ridge to rescue them.
The teams made their way to the subjects over slick uneven terrain covered by roughly 20 cms of new snow, and the men were found shivering, wearing cotton clothing that had become frozen solid.
The subjects were given a complete change of clothes, including proper hiking boots, and were warmed with heat vests and tea.
They later managed to safely hike out with the field teams. Six search and rescue team members were involved in the rescue.
Lions Bay Search and Rescue said this an opportunity for all people enjoying the outdoors to at least give a second thought to the equipment that they carry with them and the planning that they do before embarking on a trip.
