North Shore Rescue: August 2009

Aug 29 Grouse Rescue

NSR HFRS Team At it Again- Grouse Mtn Aug 29

NSR's HFRS Team has had it 5th deployment for August. On Saturday Aug 29, the HFRS

Coordinator in Training Mike Danks handled this task as part of his program to become a HFRS Coordinator. The call was for a stranded hiker from Toronto on Grouse Mtn. or should we say a very nice young man who was dressed for a stroll on Toronto's Bay Street. Completely unprepared,lost and exhausted and trapped in a gully system.

NSR is using new tactics now where we are doing multi- person tandem evacs. On this call two HFRS rescuers and the subject came out at the same time. These specific tactics are being used as training and preplan tactiics for tasks which involve a high number of people needing evacs when light, fuel, weather become factors and the number of evolutions needs to be minimized.

As per usual, fantastic support from Metro Vancouver Watershed Security and Grouse Resorts

Coquitlam Search for Male Hiker

As part of a multi regional SAR team assist to Coquitlam SAR, North Shore Rescue's Helicopter Flight Rescue Team and Talon Helicopters responded to Coquitlam's Burke Mountain to long line out a 58 year hiker from a deep canyon after he spent two days lost in this area.

NSR HFRS Coordinator Tim Jones utilized members from both NSR and Coq SAR who are attached to the NSR HFRS Team as part of an integrated strategy using this important SAR tool.

NSR has had a very busy month with this being the fourth HFRS call for August.

Cowichan Lake Rescue - More Details

August 2009 Cowichan Lake- NSR HFRS Mutual Aid for Injured Hiker

NSR's HFRS team was tasked to assist Cowichan Valley SAR to evacuate an injured male hiker above the west end of Cowichan Lake. The subject had been in a hiking party that had climbed up a steep clear cut area above the lake late afternoon August 15.

The subject fell 40 feet hitting his head on a tree and fracturing his arm. CVSAR arrived on scene at 2300 on Aug 15 and very efficiently assessed and stabilized the subject . NSR was called at 0230 by PEPECC to have an HFRS team/Talon Helicopters to respond at 0700. Great interaction between NSR and CVSAR in preplanning and logistics leading up to call.Call seamless.

Excellent assistance by CVSAR, RCMP and BCAS personnel at staging area. The subject , two friends and two CVSAR members were all long lined out due to tiredness and the 30 to 50 degree terrain with down falls and loose rock. Special thanks to the kayaker who brought me and Talon owner/pilot Peter Murray a steaming hot coffee!!!!!

A very enjoyable call ! CVSAR did a fantastic job!!!

Tim Jones
NSR HFRS Coordinator
NSR Team Leader

Funding Worries and Rescues

The fate of our gaming commission grant is currently unknown -

North Shore News article -

http://www2.canada.com/northshorenews/news/story.html?id=ce2e8f22-d050-4585-a154-f56a574f4f13

NSR relies heavily on this grant to operate.

Rescue Last Night

Last night we had a rescue just off of the Baden Powell trail for two lost hikers. They were uninjured and the rescue was a quick one.

The Grind was particularly busy last night as well. Everyone please remember its getting dark earlier and earlier now. And BRING A FLASHLIGHT, not having a flashlight is the number one reason for these types of rescues. We had many people on the Grind last night who were caught in darkness and had to be assisted by our Grind Sweep. If you start the Grind in the afternoon or evening - you need to bring a flashlight. No one ever plans to be stuck in the dark, but it happens regularly.

Rescues the Past Weekend

There were two rescues last weekend, one near Mosquito Creek and another HFRS call to assist Cowichan Lake Area Search and Rescue on Vancouver Island. Pics below are from the Cowichan Lake call.