"Too much of a good thing"

​Lions Bay Search and Rescue responded to another call on Mount Brunswick after a hiker found herself caught out after dark.

​

The subject had started her hike late in the day and turned around approximately 1 km from the summit.

• She didn't have enough warm layers for the dropping temperatures
• Her phone battery was running low
• Her headlamp — purchased earlier that day — was malfunctioning. She had no spare batteries.

​She did, however, have 8 litres of water.

​

We regularly remind people to carry enough water on Brunswick because there are no reliable water sources along the route. However, preparedness is about balance. Eight litres is approximately 8 kg (17.6 lb) of weight. At this time of year, with cooler temperatures and generally lower sweat rates, around 3 litres would have been a much more reasonable amount for most hikers, with some of that weight better allocated to warm layers, a power bank and reliable lighting.

​

There's another important lesson here: new equipment isn't tested equipment.

​

If you buy a headlamp, satellite communicator, power bank or any other piece of safety equipment, don't discover how it works when you need it. Charge it fully, learn how to use it and test it at home before taking it into the mountains. For something as critical as lighting, carry spare batteries or a backup light.

​

Our days are getting significantly shorter. Even if you plan to be home well before sunset, always carry a headlamp and prepare for the possibility that your hike takes longer than expected.

​

Prepare for the whole day, not just one hazard.

From the Lions Bay SAR post:

Lions Bay Search and Rescue responded to the Harvey Trail for a female hiker who dislocated her patella while descending. Patellar dislocations can be extremely painful and left the subject unable to continue down the trail.

A rope rescue team was sent up the trail and reached the subject. Due to the steep terrain, crews packaged her in a stretcher and set up a technical rope system, using a guideline to control the stretcher during the lower.

Once the team reached the logging road, the subject was transferred to a team vehicle and driven down to Lions Bay, where she was met by her companions and taken home.

When hiking steep trails, trekking poles can be a helpful tool for reducing impact on the knees during long descents and providing additional stability on uneven terrain.

We wish her a smooth recovery.

We took the Mystery Lake Trail and the Old Mount Seymour Trail to go up instead of the regular Mount Seymour Trail. It was quieter and we saw few people until the summit.

The Mystery Lake Trail is single-file and has muddy sections and a lot of roots. It first passes by a small mirror lake then to Mystery Lake where some people take a dip. After some nice landscapes, it joins back the main trail past Mystery Peak.

The junction to the Old Mount Seymour Trail is on the left, just past Brockton Point. The trail has a small scramble where the hands where needed (so it would be an easy Class 3 scramble in the YDS system) with no exposure. The trail either climbs on the rock slabs or in a small trench in-between rocks. There are two sections where a chain was installed. There are views of the city before arriving to Pump Peak.

There were not too many bugs yet at the summit, it was tolerable. There are many beautiful wild flowers, especially between Pump Peak and Tim Jones Peak. At Tim Jones Peak, we hiked past the summit marker and we found a nice area for summit snacks. We were surprised to find a memorial for Tim Jones with a commemorative plaque.

On the other hand, the entire hike and especially the summits were quite cold. We were feeling cold already last weekend at the Devil's Peak so we had brought extra layers for everyone and we were happy to have them!

We then returned by the regular Mount Seymour Trail where many backpackers were going camping.

Distance: 7.7km Elevation gain: 570m Duration: 5 hours (with 45 minutes at the summit)

This hike is quite challenging because the trail is unmarked and often difficult to follow. There is deadfall and several logs to go over or under. Most of the trail is on soft forest ground, but with lots of roots and slippery pieces of wood. The route is faint and crosses several other trails: downloading an offline map is necessary.

The water level was high for the crossing of Boulder Creek so we had to take our time.

There are a few viewpoints: two viewpoints are facing South before arriving to the summit. The summit is forested, it is marked by a cairn and has no view. There is a beautiful viewpoint looking West: starting from near the cairn there is a faint trail going down to some cliffs.

Distance: 9.95km, Elevation gain: 565m, Duration 5h (with 1h stop at the top)

Trail: Devil's Peak (AllTrails)

Yesterday, one of the calls we responded to was for an injured climber on Co-Pilot.

The young woman sustained serious injuries after a fall that resulted in her landing in a moat. With the assistance of u/blackcombhelicopters , one of our SAR technician was inserted to provide patient care and prepare her for extraction.

This was one of four calls our team responded to that day, including a late-night response to assist stranded hikers on Tricouni Peak with u/northshorerescue.

This evening, our members were once again called out, this time to assist an injured male at the Shannon Falls Pools.

As we head into another busy summer season, we strongly encourage everyone to use caution when exploring the backcountry and popular recreation areas. The Shannon Falls Pools have been the site of numerous serious incidents over recent years, particularly during periods of hot weather when visitation is high.

We wish both patients a full and speedy recovery, and thank all of our members and partner agencies who continue to respond whenever help is needed.

(Posted by LBSAR on June 21, 2026)

At approximately 5:10 p.m. yesterday, Lions Bay Search and Rescue was tasked to assist a 64-year-old solo female hiker on Mount Unnecessary who had become exhausted and was unable to re-ascend the fixed rope section on the trail.

Due to the subject's location and condition, rescue crews were inserted by helicopter and safely assisted her from the mountain. She was transported to Lions Bay School field, where the rescue was successfully concluded.

As we move into the first days of summer and temperatures continue to rise, LBSAR would like to remind outdoor enthusiasts to be aware of the risks of dehydration and heat-related illness. The Howe Sound Crest Trail and surrounding alpine routes are notorious for having limited water sources, and many streams and seasonal trickles are already beginning to dry up and can no longer be relied upon.

If you're planning a hike, be sure to carry plenty of water for yourself and any pets accompanying you. Consider bringing electrolyte supplements and plan your route with water availability in mind. If you begin to feel dizzy, light-headed, unusually fatigued, or develop symptoms of heat exhaustion, stop, find shade, cool down, hydrate, and turn back.

LBSAR also strongly recommends hiking with a partner or group whenever possible. Having someone with you can make a significant difference if an injury, illness, or unexpected situation occurs on the trail. At a minimum, always leave a trip plan with a trusted friend or family member and let them know when you expect to return.

(posted June 21, 2026 by Lions Bay SAR)

Lions Bay Search and Rescue responded to a call involving a 20-year-old male who sustained a shoulder dislocation while cliff jumping.

Working alongside our partners at RCM-SAR, crews were able to safely reach the subject, assist him from the water, and transport him to Horseshoe Bay where BC Emergency Health Services took over patient care.

Due to the nature of the injury, our team physician reduced the dislocated shoulder on scene, allowing the subject to be safely transferred into the rescue vessel for transport.

Thank you to all responding agencies for the teamwork and professionalism that helped bring this incident to a successful conclusion.

(posted June 15, 2026 by Lions Bay SAR)

NSR was called out last night via a mutual aid request from Squamish SAR to rescue two climbers on Tricouni Peak. The climbers were rappelling, got off route, with one of them falling and injuring her back. At this point the climbers realized they needed assistance and phoned 911.

NSR responded with Talon helicopters with pilot and hoist operator on night vision goggles. One tech was inserted onto a small ledge below the climbers. The first climber was placed in a harness and hoisted up. Then the second rescuer was inserted, packed up the anchor station and equipment, and hoisted back up with the last climber.

Talon flew to Squamish Airport and handed off the climbers to Squamish SAR.

This was NSR’s second call of the day - the first one was assisting Squamish SAR again hoisting out a subject in cardiac distress below a waterfall near Britannia Beach.

While the Tricouni call was happening NSR was also called for two hikers stuck in the dark on Dog Mountain trail. NSR dispatched a team who located the hikers and assisted them out.

Squamish SAR responded to 4 calls on Saturday so was a busy day for many SAR teams.

Thank you to Squamish SAR, Talon Helicopters, and ECC.

(From the NSR page on Facebook)

The waterfall is huge, it's simply amazing! The lookout is only 200m on the Sigurd Creek Trail past the junction.

(From the Lynn Headwaters Regional Park website on June 19, 2026)

The backcountry routes are now open, but hikers should be aware that snow hazards still exist. Up to 1.2 m of snow remains in some sections with the potential for:

• Sinkholes
• Collapsing snow bridges
• Fast-flowing meltwater
• Rocks hidden beneath the snow

You'll need good route-finding skills, backcountry experience, good hiking gear and the 10 essentials. Create a trip plan at AdventureSmart. 

Some patches of snow can sometimes persist longer in the summertime, especially in shady areas like Hanes Valley. The backcountry routes are quite remote, sometimes without good mobile network reception. Study the current trail conditions before going, like stream water levels and creek crossings, for example by reading trip reports and looking at satellite images.

The first image shows the official "challenging routes" designated by Lynn Headwaters Regional Park.

The backcountry areas refer to everything past Norvan Falls:

• Mount Coliseum
• Mount Burwell
• Hanes Valley
• Lynn Lake
• Echo and Zinc
• Connection to Paton Peak via Norvan Pass

And the Lynn Peaks:

• South Lynn Peak
• Lynn Peak
• South, Middle, North Lynn Needles

As well as everything past Dam Mountain:

• Little Goat
• Goat Mountain
• Crown Mountain
• Goat Mountain Ridge Extension
• Crown N1
• Forks

Note that West Crown "Beauty Peak" is in the Capilano Watershed and off-limits; Cathedral Mountain is located in the Seymour Watershed and off-limits.

For those interested in reaching snow-covered objectives: stay vigilant!

Either avoid avalanche terrain or manage the risk with training (AST) and equipment (beacon, shovel, probe).

• Note: Where is the snow? You can look at Live Satellite images (updated every ~2 days) for free on Copernicus Browser.

Video and text from Avalanche Canada on Instagram and Facebook

>This video from Mt Garibaldi yesterday (June 14, 2026) is a reminder that avalanches are still possible in some areas. The sudden switch from Juneuary to summer weather is having a destabilizing effect on the snowpack, so be sure to plan for changing conditions if you're still getting after it.

General Trends for June-July

At very high elevations, winter-like conditions still exist and slab avalanches are possible.

At intermediate elevations, spring conditions dominate. The snowpack stability is variable throughout the day: avoid exposure to avalanche terrain during solar radiation, daytime warming, or rain.

In spring conditions, the main problem is Wet Loose Avalanches: video explanation. Some warning signs, the snow feels like 'mash potatoes' and you are sinking to your ankles or above.

Note: Cornice collapsing can be possible, look above you to avoid travelling under overhead hazards. At ridges and summits, avoid stepping too close to the edges!

• AvySavvy free tutorial from Avalanche Canada
• Avalanche resources for winter hiking

These photos capture just a small part of the area covered by our team—one of the largest search and rescue response regions in the province. Today Pemberton SAR’’a Lillooet Division was tasked out, to reports of a medical emergency on a local trail. Crews searched the area, but the subject had already left. In the rescue world this is called (GOA) “Gone on Arrival”.

While we’re always happy when someone gets out safely, GOA incidents can still require significant resources. Ground teams, helicopters, emergency dispatchers, and partner agencies may all be mobilized based on the information available at the time.

If you call 911 or someone calls on your behalf and you’re able to safely leave the area, please update 911 as soon as possible. That simple phone call can help stand down responding members, helicopters, gear and more, freeing up critical resources for the next emergency.

When you’re safe, let us (911) know you’re safe.

(From the Pemberton Search and Rescue post on June 13, 2026)

We took Woodland Walk (lower loop), Sawblade trail, and Coquitlam Lake View trail to reach a beautiful viewpoint. The trail is quite pleasant walk under tree canopy, mostly on soft ground, medium-size rocks and roots. The trail is dog friendly. Distance 12km, Elevation gain: 665m, Duration: 5h45m

From the Central Fraser Valley Search and Rescue Society's page:

We're Recruiting New Volunteers!

Have you ever wanted to challenge yourself, learn valuable outdoor and rescue skills, and make a difference in your community?

Central Fraser Valley Search and Rescue is looking for dedicated individuals who are ready to answer the call when someone needs help most. Our members come from all walks of life, but they share a common commitment to teamwork, service, and helping others in their time of need.

Recruitment Events

July 7 – Open House (7:00 PM)

July 25 – Recruitment Day Hike

August 22–23 – Recruitment Overnight Hike

Minimum Requirements • 19 years of age or older

• Valid Class 5 Driver's Licence

• 5-year Driver's Abstract

• Police Information Check with Vulnerable Sector Screening

• Ability to commit to a minimum 3-year term

• Valid First Aid certification (obtained by September 2026 and valid through 2027)

Whether you're an experienced outdoor enthusiast or simply looking for a meaningful way to give back, we encourage you to come learn more about what it takes to become a SAR volunteer.

1954 Riverside Rd, Abbotsford, BC

recruiting@cfvsar.bc.ca

cfvsar.bc.ca/recruitment

Deadline for application July 24, 2026

An expansion plan was published for Mount Seymour today, and there is already a great discussion going on in this thread (thanks u/Ryan_Van).

The development plan is available online (see links below). In order to give an easy overview to the hikers community, I extracted the images and text that summarize the proposal best for hikers.

It's possible to give feedback through an online survey on the BC Government's website, and there will be an Open House at the Parkgate Community Centre.

I also encourage you to share the information and continue the discussion!

Mt Seymour website

• Presentation of the Ski Resort Development Plan on the Mt Seymour Resorts website
• Links to the development plan documents (8 PDF documents) published on the Mt Seymour website.
  • The main Development Plan [pdf] has 198 pages including a 28-page preliminary environmental overview assessment.
  • The Executive Summary [pdf] has 20 pages.
  • The other six files have a single page.
• There is 3D topographic map on the presentation page, which can also be accessed in this ArcGIS Scene Viewer (overview)
• Mt Seymour Resort will host an open house on June 11, 4:30pm-7:30pm at the Parkgate Community Centre

BC Government website

• Public Engagement Opportunity (May 26, 2026 to June 26, 4pm) on the govTogetherBC website
• 'Take the survey' (open until June 26 at 4:00 pm) on the govTogetherBC website

Text and photos from the North Shore Rescue post.

They also have posted a video of the helicopter flight here.

Task debrief

Wednesday late afternoon/evening, NSR was tasked for a rescue of two teens, deep in the backcountry behind Mt. Seymour. It is understood that these two set off to summit Runner Peak, and on their descent, encountered difficulty descending the steep snow slope.

They took a different path down through some trees, got off trail, and ended up following the Elsay Lake trail in the wrong direction (i.e. further north towards Elsay Lake, not south to the parking lot / trailhead).

Once they realized they were significantly lost, they used their IPhone emergency satellite SOS feature to call for rescue. Thankfully, they stayed put, and a NSR helicopter rescue team with Talon Helicopters were able to fly to their location, spot them from the air, and perform a hoist rescue.

Lessons learned

There are a number of "lessons learned" arising out of this rescue.

• We share this discussion to illustrate what can go wrong, and what can be done differently, in hopes that the educational commentary can prevent future such situations/rescues.
• As a reminder, NSR (and every other SAR team, for that matter) does not support charging/fines for rescues, for subject safety and for our own. (https://www.northshorerescue.com/about-us/not-charging-rescues/)

This situation is an excellent example of how a number of errors can compound and result in a very serious situation.

For those who are unaware of the mountain, Runner is a significant undertaking, only for those with significant experience and skill.

At this time of year (i.e. still snow), it remains a mountaineering objective, requiring ice axe and crampons (and experience self arresting).

This mountain may be familiar to readers, as it was the location of the "code alpha" avalanche death featured in Season 1 Episode 5 of our Search and Rescue documentary (starting at 36:22 - https://www.knowledge.ca/watch/2ad95006-44e2-4b11-9c3f-f1f4f41a003e)

These two hikers lacked the adequate gear to tackle this objective. This lack of gear resulted in them departing from the standard route (i.e. they couldn't descend the snow slope).

An additional lesson learned - they did not have any offline maps downloaded onto their mapping app of choice (AllTrails?). As a result, when they left cell range, they did not have any map to help guide their way. This resulted in them heading north rather than south; this took them deeper into the backcountry, away from the parking lot. (They were ultimately located north of Canadian Pass, for those who know the area.)

This illustrates the need to have your maps (whatever GPS or phone program you use) downloaded for offline use. In the North Shore, cell service disappears very fast the further you get from the trailhead.

A cell phone/GPS without offline maps is useless for navigation. If you do use your phone for mapping (SAR always endorses the good old map and compass and skill on how to use them), also ensure to take an external battery pack - cell batteries drain quicker than you think, especially with mapping and in the cold temperatures.

Thankfully, these two had enough battery life left in their phones, and they had a generation of Iphone capable of emergency satellite SOS communication. This is what enabled SAR crews to be alerted to their predicament and location.

Once that process was initiated, the two did the right thing by staying put and waiting for rescue. (Had they continued on, a search of the terrain they were in would have taken a significant amount of time for SAR crews.)

These two hikers were lightly equipped and had become wet and cold throughout their ordeal. They were quite cold by the time rescue crews had assembled and were approaching their location.

An excellent reminder that all recreationalists should carry, at a minimum, the 10 Essentials with them at all times. https://www.northshorerescue.com/education/what-to-bring/

Once the helicopter was nearby, they made the smart decision to start flashing a light; this made identification of their precise location much easier from the air.

Thanks to the IPhone emergency call centre personnel, RCMP, and Metro Van for their assistance on this call.

Text from the NSR page. Thanks to NSR, LBSAR, WSAR, Talon Helicopters and all agencies involved!

LONG WEEKEND TASKS DEBRIEF

As is often the case, the May long weekend was a busy one for NSR, and indeed for SAR teams across the Province.

The common theme locally - hikers unprepared (in both equipment and skill) for encountering snow when hiking in the mountains. A reminder: even in 'low' snow years like this year (locally, at least), and even when the weather a sea level is sunny and warm, there remains a significant amount of snow at elevation, and recreationalists need to be mindful of this.

Task #1

Saturday evening, NSR's helicopter rescue team was called on Mutual Aid with Lions Bay SAR for a group of four hikers on the Brunswick trail who were unprepared for the snow and technical terrain they had encountered and were stuck in hazardous terrain.

LBSAR members had responded with Talon Helicopters, but due to low cloud cover, had to hover-exit lower down and make their way on foot to the stranded subjects. Once on scene, with the clouds moving in and out, they requested a hoist assist from NSR.

This was the latest in a long series of rescues that LBSAR has had in their jurisdiction over the last few weeks. Here, the two teams worked very well together to effect the successful helicopter rescue of the individuals.

See Lions Bay SAR's post (photo attached to this post also courtesy of LBSAR) here:

• Lions Bay SAR Facebook post
• Reddit discussion thread

Tasks #2 and 3

On Sunday afternoon, NSR responded for two simultaneous ankle injuries, the first on the Dog Mountain trail on Seymour, and then 11 minutes later north of St. Mark's Summit on Cypress.

With our partners at Talon Helicopters, a hoist helicopter team first rescued the Dog Mountain subject, then the St. Mark's.

Task #4

Late Sunday evening, NSR was tasked on Mutual Aid by Whistler SAR for 4 ill equipped, stuck/stranded hikers at Garibaldi Lake.

The individuals were unprepared and ill equipped for the cold snowy conditions they found themselves in, and given their conditions, a helicopter rescue was deemed prudent and proper for their safety.

No, this is not deja vu - the circumstances and location were essentially identical to the WSAR-NSR helicopter rescue at Garibaldi Lake two weeks prior.

• NSR Facebook post
• Reddit discussion thread

Task #5

On Monday afternoon, NSR was tasked for a hiker with a dislocated shoulder injury on Pump Peak in the Seymour backcountry.

By pure coincidence, one of our Advanced Medical Providers was recreating nearby and made his way to the subject. He was then able to reduce the dislocation and start hiking out. They met up with yet another NSR member who happened to be recreating in the area, and they all made their way out safety to the parking lot.

From the Lions Bay SAR post:

Lion’s Bay Search and Rescue was dispatched for four hikers stuck on the Mount Brunswick Trail in steep, snowy, and slippery conditions.

A team was dropped in by helicopter and hiked to the subjects. Due to the time of day, temperature, and cloud line, the decision was made to request assistance from North Shore Rescue for a hoist extraction. All subjects were hoisted out and taken down to Lions Bay.

This incident serves as another reminder that Mount Brunswick is still under winter conditions and is not suitable for travel in running shoes. Proper footwear and winter mountain gear is needed for this route.

For all hikers, having the proper gear for your trip is essential. This should include food and water, proper footwear, headlamp and batteries, cellphone and charger, and warm layers regardless of elevation. Hikers are also encouraged to research the current conditions as part of their trip planning process, as well as the time needed to complete the hike before dark.

Check out AdventureSmart for trip planning resources.

Thank you to North Shore Rescue for their assistance with this call.

From [this post on the Lions Bay SAR page](https://www.facebook.com/share/1E6Xt3qhpQ/):

Lions Bay Search and Rescue (LBSAR) responded to a call involving an injured hiker with a sprained ankle on the Brunswick Trail.

A group of four hikers had set out on a challenging hike toward Mount Brunswick. Approximately 2 km below the summit, one member of the group sustained a sprained ankle after stepping on loose rock. Recognizing the injury, the group made the decision to turn around and begin descending.

An initial response team was first to reach the subject and conducted an initial assessment. The subject was fitted with a walking boot in an attempt to assist with mobility. However, after some time, the subject continued to experience significant pain and was unable to safely continue under their own power.

A second team arrived with a stretcher, and the decision was made to transition to a carry-out. The subject was packaged and transported down the trail, including a careful crossing of Magnesia Creek, before being brought to waiting rescue vehicles.

This incident highlights the importance of proper footing and caution on loose terrain, particularly on steep and technical trails such as Brunswick.

This marks the third call this week involving similar circumstances. In each case, inadequate footwear has been a contributing factor. LBSAR reminds hikers that proper footwear is essential on steep, loose, and technical terrain, particularly on routes like Brunswick.