UPDATE — 4:17 p.m.: Lions Bay Search and Rescue teams have reached two hikers who became hypothermic after being caught overnight in Saturday’s severe thunderstorm near Magnesia Meadows on the Howe Sound Crest Trail.
From what we understand, severe winds and rain damaged their tent, ripping away the rain fly and leaving their clothing and equipment completely soaked. The hikers made their way to the Magnesia Meadows emergency shelter and were able to access the emergency cache, using the supplies inside to get warm and dry. After several hours of rewarming, their condition improved enough that they are now able to travel on foot.
Low cloud ceilings and poor weather prevented helicopter access today, requiring SAR teams to hike several hours from near sea level carrying medical and emergency equipment. The hikers will now be escorted out on foot via the Harvey Basin Trail, a hike expected to take at least another two hours.
There are several important lessons from this rescue.
If you call 911, answer your phone when SAR calls. Teams attempted to communicate directly with the hikers during the response, but they were not answering their phones and were instead communicating with family members. Once you’ve requested rescue, keep your phone on, conserve the battery and answer calls from unfamiliar numbers. Rescuers may need critical information to assess your condition and determine how best to reach you.
Give yourself a weather window. For a committing trip like the Howe Sound Crest Trail, look beyond the forecast for your planned travel day. We recommend a clear weather window of at least 48 hours. Saturday’s severe storm was well forecast, and mountain weather can arrive earlier than expected. During a major alpine storm, rescue may be extremely difficult or impossible.
And finally, know where your emergency resources are. Finding the Magnesia Meadows shelter made a significant difference in this incident. Equipment can fail and conditions can change quickly. Knowing where to find shelter—and carrying enough equipment to survive an unexpected night out—can prevent a difficult situation from becoming much worse.