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Hey B.C. Hikers! Search and Rescue is Busier Than Ever

Mount Fromme rescue on May 7

North Shore Rescue in Vancouver is reporting its busiest year ever so far.

In a Facebook post Friday night, the volunteer organization said that it had responded to 41 calls since Jan. 1.

At this time last year, the total was 29, and the previous high was in 2016, when crews had responded to 35 requests for assistance by mid-May.

On Saturday afternoon, they were called out for their 42nd time after a report of four lost hikers in the Suicide Creek area of Mount Seymour.

North Shore Rescue Search Manager Doug Pope told CTV News that the hikers had been headed for Dog Mountain, but got lost and ended up on Pump Peak – the first summit of Mount Seymour.

“The four hikers are in their 20s,” Pope said, “and were wearing running shoes. They were ill-equipped for the steep, snowy slope they ended up on.

“They were pretty much stuck. They were afraid for their lives.”

Rescuers asked the four hikers to stay put and were able to reach them by helicopter around 2 p.m.

Pope is reminding the public to bring proper equipment, such as hiking boots, crampons and warm layers if they’re going to be making their way up to above the snow line.

“May long weekend is typically a busy time for us,” Pope said.

“It might be a nice day down in Vancouver right now but up here there’s still snow and it’s still winter conditions.”

More information on how to prepare for a hike can be found on the North Shore Rescue website.

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