On September 17, Lions Bay Search and Rescue was called to assist a 28-year-old hiker experiencing severe knee pain high on Brunswick Mountain.
The hiker had travelled by transit from Langley and started hiking alone at approximately 11:00 a.m. He was carrying a backpack and some of the 10 Essentials, but did not have a headlamp or a backup power source for his phone.
As he climbed toward Brunswick Ridge, his right knee began to hurt. The pain progressively worsened until, near the ridge, he decided he could no longer safely continue and called 911.
By then, several other problems were beginning to compound the situation. He was tired, had run out of water, wasn't entirely sure of the trail location, and daylight was running out. He was relying on his phone for navigation, and its battery had dropped into the single digits.
Brunswick Mountain is the higher peak in the Howe Sound Crest Trail area. From Lions Bay, the route gains roughly 1,500 metres and is relentlessly steep, ending in exposed and partially exposed rocky terrain near the summit.
Getting to the top is only HALF the trip. You still need the strength, time and equipment to get yourself back down.
LBSAR was tasked at 5:24 p.m. With clear weather but a rapidly shrinking daylight window, crews moved quickly. Sunset is now 7:21 p.m., with civil twilight ending at 7:53 p.m.
SUNSET & CIVIL TWILIGHT
Talon Helicopters responded with an AStar, which could quickly get a three-person SAR team onto Brunswick Ridge. By 6:43 p.m., rescuers were above the subject. But the AStar used for this operation could not simply continue working after dark. A night operation requires different aircraft capabilities and operating parameters. For LBSAR, that means transitioning to Talon's Dauphin helicopter and using night vision goggles.
The team descended from the ridge, located the hiker and assessed his condition. He was able to walk, but descending the steep trail was causing significant pain. Instead, rescuers assisted and guided him back uphill to Brunswick Ridge, where he could safely access the helicopter.
He was flown back to Lions Bay before darkness set in.
We later learned that this was actually the second time LBSAR had rescued this individual in less than six months. On May 4, he was part of a group of four rescued after suffering a sprained ankle.
Injuries happen. You can prepare well, make good decisions and still roll an ankle, hurt a knee or have something else go wrong in the mountains. That's one of the reasons Search and Rescue exists - but preparedness and listening to your body are important.
On this trip, the knee pain wasn't the only problem. He had started a significant mountain objective at approximately 11:00 a.m. without a headlamp or backup power source. By the time he called for help, he had run out of water, wasn't entirely sure of the trail location, his phone battery was nearly dead and daylight was disappearing.
Any one of those things might be manageable. Together, they leave very little margin when something unexpected happens.
Before choosing an objective, research the route: its distance, elevation gain, terrain, navigation challenges and how long it realistically takes. Consider whether your current fitness and experience match what you're attempting. Start early enough to leave room for slower travel, changing weather, injury or an unexpected delay. Know when to turn around.
Carry the 10 Essentials and know how to use them.
A headlamp is non-negotiable. You carry one because sometimes the day doesn't go according to plan. The same applies to extra water, food, clothing, navigation tools and a backup power source for a phone you're depending on.
September days are getting shorter quickly. It becomes dark beneath the forest canopy even EARLIER than sunset, and a steep trail that was manageable in daylight can become a very different problem when you can no longer see it.