Hiking emergencies

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Posted by kutenay on July 9, 2007 at 8:44:32 am EDT

The recent comments concerning the need to carry a basic emergency kit with you while hiking were brought back to me while watching last night's TV news out of Vancouver, BC., as they were last week, as well.

Last week, in the Norh Shore Mountains here, still snowcapped and subject to severe winds and torrential rains year-round; these are visible from the window beside which I sit typing and are 20 minutes drive-time from my home, a hiker became stranded in the deep, soft, melting snow not far from a major ski area. He WAS rescued as, although young and very fit, having grown up in these mountains, he was too exhausted, after a night out without adequate cover, to walk a couple of klicks back to safety and, in mid-July, he was seriously hypothermic.

Yesterday, a couple of climbers, local, experienced ones, were caught by a sudden slide on Mt. Slesse, which is on the Canada-USA border. After the hot weather we have been having, there is STILL deep snow and ice on much of this mountain and one of these guys is in a crevasse, covered with ice, snow, rocks and is very likely dead.

His companion could NOT rescue him and hiked for five hours to get assistance, this in one of the most densely populated parts of Canada, yet, it took a fit mountaineer this long to reach the first habitation. Rescue crews flew in, however, even with our current nice weather, the chopper pilot could not land and ground crews could not reach the site as the slides were too frequent and severe.

This IS IN the most populated, climatically moderate region of BC, where SAR facilities are at their highest level; the conditions in northern BC and the Kootenays are FAR worse and incidents like this are almost always fatal, including, sometimes, to the rescuers.

I post this out of concern for those who may want to come and explore BC's huge and gorgeous wilderness and should realize what it is REALLY like. You CANNOT take chances here and you MUST carry an emergency camp capable of keeping you dry, warm, hydrated and fed for several days, ANYTIME you leave the highway.

A complete winter kit will weigh about 25 lbs. and a summer version about 15-20 lbs. Those who venture into even the Coastal Mountains on the southern BC coast without such gear and the knowledge how to use it are putting themselves AND potential rescuers in grave peril.

A kit like this is NOT expensive and will last for years, but, it is a MUST anywhere you can hike, climb, ski or fish in BC and I cannot stress this too strongly. So, come and see what the most beautiful place on Earth is like, safe hiking, friendly people and neighbours who WILL help you to safely enjoy your trip here; BUT, get an emergency kit togather and CARRY it!

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