Lions Bay rescue team airlifts couple from James Peak after exhaustion on Howe Sound Crest Trail
Married couple rescued Sunday after attempting full 10-kilometre-plus trek in single day. First operational night hover rescue for Lions Bay Search and Rescue.
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A married couple were rescued by Lions Bay Search and Rescue on Sunday after they became exhausted on the Howe Sound Crest Trail and could not continue past James Peak.
The pair started their hike at Cypress Mountain around 9 a.m., planning to reach Porteau Cove by day's end. By the time they reached James Peak, they had hiked more than 10 kilometres with more than 1,500 metres in elevation gain and were unable to proceed further.
Crews requested helicopter assistance and performed Lions Bay's first operational night hover rescue. Three team members were inserted near the hikers, and both the couple and the rescue team were extracted by hover as dusk set in.
Lions Bay Search and Rescue noted the couple was "poorly equipped for the demands of the trip." Rescue crews urge all hikers to bring sufficient food and water, be realistic about how long difficult hikes take, and consider spending an unexpected night in the backcountry rather than rushing.
The Howe Sound Crest Trail is a long, strenuous, and committing backcountry route.
On the same day, a second Lions Bay Search and Rescue team helped a disoriented hiker along the Harvey Trail.
