At approximately 10:00 p.m. on Sunday night, Lions Bay Search and Rescue was paged out for a group of four hikers, ranging in age from 15 to 19, who had become stranded after setting out for a sunset hike.
After four previous rescues in just 24 hours, we might have been a little tempted to let them enjoy the night up there.
Except this was not a night to be unprepared in the mountains.
Some of the teenagers were wearing hoodies and sweatpants and were not carrying the Essentials. Earlier in the day, mackerel clouds had been moving across the sky — often a sign of an approaching change in weather — and rain warnings for the region followed.
At this time of year, hypothermia is a very real concern. Temperatures at higher elevations are already approaching freezing overnight. Rain can quickly soak clothing, particularly cotton, leaving very little insulation as temperatures fall.
The group had planned their trip largely using information they found on social media. They intended to navigate using AllTrails, watch the sunset, and then use the flashlights on their phones to make their way back down after dark.
This is a combination we strongly discourage.
Your phone should not be your navigation device, primary light source and only means of emergency communication all at the same time. Running navigation and the flashlight drains the battery, while carrying a phone in your hand over rough terrain in darkness creates another tripping hazard. Carry a proper headlamp - no exceptions.
The teenagers also told us they were surprised by how "cold" it became.
Fortunately, this group encountered a couple camping nearby who were properly prepared for the conditions.
They had a tent, sleeping bags, food and the equipment necessary to keep themselves warm overnight. When they discovered the teenagers, they helped warm them in sleeping bags and assisted them in starting a fire while Search and Rescue crews made their way to them.
We sincerely thank these individuals. Their preparation meant they had enough equipment not only to look after themselves, but also to help four strangers who unexpectedly needed it. Their generosity and kindness made a significant difference that night.
NO TRIP PLAN
When we spoke with the teenagers' families, we discovered another problem.
Nobody at home really knew where they were.
When we spoke with their families, we heard that they were planning to go to Whistler... but maybe their car was at Park Royal. Informants said they were by the West Lion, finally a GPS pin put them somewhere north of Mount Unnecessary. Their families simply didn't know what the actual plan was.
That matters enormously when something goes wrong.
If a phone dies and we need to start looking for someone, the information left behind can become one of our most important search tools. Where were they going? Which trail? Where did they park? What route were they taking? Who were they with? When were they supposed to return?
Without that information, we may be starting with little more than “they went hiking.”
A MESSAGE FOR PARENTS
When your teenager tells you, “We're just going for a little hike with friends,” DIG IN.
Ask where they're going. Look up the trail yourself. Find out how long it is, how much elevation it gains, what kind of terrain they'll encounter and what the weather will be doing. Know where they're parking, who they're going with, what equipment they're carrying and when they're expected home.
They may not know how to make a proper trip plan yet. Help them learn.
Walk them through the AdventureSmart 3 Ts: Trip Planning, Training and Taking the Essentials. Make sure somebody staying home has their actual trip plan and knows when to raise the alarm if they don't return.
Remember, you are the emergency contact the RCMP and Search and Rescue may call. When that phone rings, we need you to be able to tell us more than, “They went hiking somewhere.”
Social media can lure your teenagers to a beautiful sunset summit. It doesn't show them the darkness afterward, the temperature dropping toward freezing, the incoming rain, the dead phone battery or the long walk back down.
YOU are their safety net. Rise to that responsibility. Yes, they should know better. The reality is, they may not. They may not yet have the experience to recognize what they don't know.
Help them make a plan. Help them come home.