Disoriented hikers rescued from Valleycliffe trails

Three disoriented hikers who were lost in the Mt. Crumpit area of Valleycliffe were found by Squamish Search and Rescue.

This past Thursday night, the SAR received a report of three hikers who were disoriented and had lost their way in the trails at night.

“They got lost in the dark and could not find their way back,” said SAR manager BJ Chute.

SAR team located them with the help of their phone GPS and sent rescuers with head lamps who were able to bring them back to safety.

The rescue was one among eight incidents that kept SAR members busy this past week.

This weekend, SAR members also responded to calls about injured climbers.

On Sunday, a climber who had fallen and injured his ankle while climbing the Stawamus Chief was rescued by SAR crews.

“We lowered a SAR technician who was able to put the climber in a harness, and bring him back to helicopter, from where he was taken to hospital,” Chute said.

SAR also rescued a climber from Mt. Fee between Squamish and Whistler while an injured climber was rescued from Tantalus Mountain.  A hiker in medical distress at the Sea to Sky Summit Trail on the Gondola was also rescued, although the gondola staff had sent a staff member who has assisted in bringing the climber back.

Chute said SAR is ramping up for a busy season, and is encouraging those in distress to not hesitate to call 911.