North Shore Crews Make Three Rescues in Three Days

There have been three rescues in three days on the North Shore Mountains as hikers needed help over the weekend.

The first person being rescued from Crown Mountain (Photo Credit: North Shore Rescue)

It all began on Saturday February 28^th when North Shore Rescue (NSR) received a report of an injured hiker on Crown Mountain near Grouse Mountain. Crews were told that an adult man has fallen 20 to 30 feet and was stuck between a tree and a rock ledge that was over a steep drop. With unknown injuries the team sprang into action and mobilized a helicopter for a rope rescue. Crews quickly learned that the man had injured his arm in the fall and had slipped while traversing the snow slope near the summit. Luckily he was able to catch a tree, but remained in a tricky spot.

The first person being rescued from Crown Mountain (Photo Credit: North Shore Rescue)

“With a SAR member already on the ground who had hiked up from Crown Pass, it was decided that a helicopter flight technician would be dropped off with the team doctor to access, secure and stabilize the patient before a longline extraction,” said NSR’s Curtis Jones. “The two members were subsequently hover exited on rocky prominence near the peak of Crown in complex but expertly executed maneuver by the pilot.”

The location of the first person being rescued from Crown Mountain (Photo Credit: North Shore Rescue)

The man was secured and had his injury splinted and was belayed to a waiting ambulance. The second rescue on Crown Mountain took place on Sunday, March 1^st when a hiker became injured and was not able to walk himself out. The 67 year old man sustained a lower leg injury and a Talon Helicopter was called in to help transport him out.

The second person receiving treatment following his rescue (Photo Credit: North Shore Rescue)

“The patient was accessed, stabilized and extracted from the scene with inclement weather prevailing and minimal daylight remaining,” said Jones. “The patient was subsequently treated by an NSR doctor before being transported to hospital.”

The second helicoptor rescue over the weekend (Photo Credit: North Shore Rescue)

Then, later that same evening, another call came into NSR for two overdue hikers. The two men, in their 20s had told their wives that they were going hiking and would return home around 8:00 p.m. When they failed to return one of the wives called search and rescue and crews were again called to help. The helicopter was again called in to rescue the men, who ended up having to spend a chilly night on the mountain. By Monday morning teams were able to locate them and they were airlifted out to waiting ambulances. Both hikers are said to be in good condition, but suffering from hypothermia.

One of the men being rescued in the third call of the weekend (Photo Credit: North Shore Rescue)

NSR would like to remind the hiking and climbing public that the Hanes Valley and Crown Mountain areas remain closed by Metro Vancouver. These back-country areas still have winter conditions and the public should respect Metro Vancouver’s closure.