Four hikers were stranded in the alpine of Golden Ears Park, one of British Columbia’s largest parks and most popular camping destinations, for four days during dangerous avalanche conditions before being rescued.
Ridge Meadows Search and Rescue provided a detailed account of the rescue operation that was triggered by using Apple SOS messaging. The group of hikers summitted Golden Ears Mountain (elevation 5,630 feet/prominence 3,287 feet) on Saturday during clear weather but they were later surprised by a snow storm that brought in whiteout conditions. The hikers were prepared to spend the night and managed to make their way to the emergency shelter on Panorama Ridge. Once they reached the shelter they put out a the Apple SOS call and Ridge Meadows Search and Rescue were activated Saturday evening.
Weather proved too poor to attempt a rescue by air and the avalanche danger was too high for ground teams to reach the stranded hikers by foot. Knowing they were safe for the time being in the shelter, Ridge Meadows Search and Rescue waited until Sunday morning to attempt to access them by helicopter. A helicopter rescue team was able to get within a few hundred meters of their location, but unfortunately not close enough to safely access the group. Another attempt was made Monday but the weather was even worse. The group had also ran out of food and other supplies Monday evening.
Finally on Tuesday a break in weather gave Ridge Meadows Search and Rescue the ability to reach the shelter by helicopter. A Coquitlam Search and Rescue/Ridge Meadows Search and Rescue helicopter rescue team were used in case hoist was needed for extraction. However, conditions had improved enough that Talon Helicopters was able to land next to the shelter.
When rescuers finally reached the group the hikers was tired and hungry but otherwise in good shape. They were flown out to Pitt Meadows Airport where they were met by family.
Key lessons from this incident:
-Always expect weather to change rapidly in the mountains.
-Always be prepared to spend the night in an emergency.
-Always check avalanche conditions before heading out into avalanche terrain.
-Always have the equipment and training to navigate or avoid avalanche terrain.
“Rescue is never rapid in the mountains like it is in the city. In this case it took days. Fortunately this group was well prepared and had a shelter to protect them. Otherwise the outcome may have been different.” – Ridge Meadows Search and Rescue
