Sea to Sky RCMP is renewing calls for backcountry preparedness after a brutal stretch over the weekend of June 20-21 that saw five separate search and rescue calls in the Squamish area, one of which ended in a fatality.
On June 20, the Squamish Detachment fielded four calls for service within a seven-hour window, each requiring rescue or recovery operations in remote terrain. The incidents unfolded at four different locations: Sky Pilot, Tricouni Peak, the Howe Sound Crest Trail, and a waterfall east of Britannia Beach.
Search and rescue crews extracted individuals from all four sites, with help from BC Ambulance and, in one case, the Britannia Beach Fire Department. Several people were injured, including one person seriously hurt in the Sky Pilot incident.
The most serious outcome came from the Britannia Beach backcountry, where a 31-year-old man died after sustaining injuries in a waterfall system.
A fifth call came in the next day, June 21, for an injured hiker in the Shannon Falls pool system.
Squamish SAR, Lions Bay SAR and North Shore Rescue all responded to calls across the two-day span. Of the five incidents, two involved hikers triggering the SOS function on satellite communication devices, while the rest were within cellular range, allowing people to call directly for help.
“We have far too many examples of calls in our backcountry that go wrong each and every year, but knowing how to call for help, what to do when help is needed, or what to do when the rescue teams are en route is critical,” said Staff Sergeant Sascha Banks.
“Unfortunately, a man lost his life this weekend, and our thoughts are with his family and with those responding to the scene to render aid,” Banks said. “Squamish SAR, Lions Bay SAR, BC Ambulance, and our teams have had an incredibly busy and tragic past few months in our parks and backcountry.”
Banks urged anyone heading into the backcountry to research their route, carry proper gear, and bring a reliable way to call for help — steps she noted were taken by those involved in this weekend’s incidents.
RCMP pointed to AdventureSmart as a trusted resource for trip planning, equipment checklists, and training before any backcountry outing.
