3 rescued from the Lions Binkert Trail

Lions Bay Search and Rescue was called late Tuesday evening to assist three hikers after one member of the group suffered a serious fall while descending the Binkert Trail from the Lions.

The group had started from Cypress Mountain at approximately 8:30 a.m. with the goal of hiking the Howe Sound Crest Trail to Lions Bay. By the time they reached Mount Unnecessary, they were already dehydrated and experiencing severe leg cramps. Although they had packed electrolyte supplements, they hadn't consumed them. One hiker's legs locked up, causing his first fall of the day.

The group continued to the Lions notch, where they made the smart decision not to attempt the summit of the West Lion. Instead, they began descending the Binkert Trail.

While negotiating a three-metre rock step on the descent, one hiker slipped and landed hard on his tailbone, leaving him unable to continue. The injury was suspected to be a fractured coccyx.

With darkness, steep terrain, and an immobile patient, LBSAR requested mutual aid from North Shore Rescue and Talon Helicopters for a night helicopter hoist.

At approximately 12:45 a.m., helicopter rescue technicians reached the group. The injured hiker was packaged in an Air Rescue Platform and safely hoisted from the mountainside. The two uninjured hikers were also evacuated, as they were exhausted, running low on supplies, and not equipped to spend the night.

All three hikers were safely returned to Lions Bay and reunited with their parents.

Some points for reflection: Long mountain objectives are rarely undone by a single mistake. More often, they unravel through a series of small decisions that compound over the course of the day.

In this case, dehydration led to muscle cramps. The cramps led to an early fall. Fatigue continued to build, and as daylight faded, a second fall resulted in an injury that required a nighttime helicopter rescue.

The mountains often give us warning signs before a major incident occurs. Recognizing those signs—and being willing to stop, rehydrate, refuel, rest, or even turn around—can prevent a difficult day from becoming an emergency.

The HSCT is regularly underestimated, and is the number two area for rescues; the first is Mount Brunswick. The HSCT does not have adequate water sources this time of year and hikers must be willing to pack and carry 3 to 4 L per person.

A huge thank you to our partners at North Shore Rescue and Talon Helicopters for another seamless night operation. We appreciate your continued partnership.