Finding a blue tarp after being lost on a North Shore mountain might have saved a hiker’s life this weekend.
North Shore Rescue were able to save an in Lynn Headwaters Regional Park Sunday morning after seeing a person waving a blue tarp at their helicopter.
“The hiker was wearing black rain jacket and pants. She wouldn’t have been seen from the air without waving the blue tarp,” said search and rescue manager Paul Markey. “Ground teams may have found her later, but that’s not a for sure thing.”
Markey says North Shore Rescue received the call Saturday afternoon after a 28-year-old woman hiker went missing earlier that morning. The woman crossed a metal grid bridge in the park to take photos, while her hiking partner and dog stayed on the other side, Markey said.
As the hiker continued along the trail, she became disorientated and went off trail, ending up being far separated from her hiking partner and dog. Luckily, she found a bivouac shelter and found tarps inside to use as a shelter overnight.
Lynn Headwaters Park Rangers, Coquitlam and Lions Bay SAR, Talon helicopters and North Vancouver RCMP all pitched in to help find the missing hiker.
When North Shore Rescue crews got out of the helicopter to save the hiker, she showed signs of mild to moderate hypothermia but was fine otherwise, Markey said.
“She’s a very strong lady, good survival instincts,” he said. “The weather was horrendous. It was raining very heavily, it was very cold, and the creeks were flowing very high. It was quite dangerous.”
“She would have been probably in severe hypothermia if she hadn't found the shelter and tarps,” Markey added.
Crews then took her into the helicopter and flew her back to North Shore Rescue base where her family, friends and hiking partner were waiting.
The rescue call had a happy ending this weekend, but the rescue team says this situation is a great example of why wearing bright colours hiking in the backcountry can potentially save your life.
Markey says other “lessons learned” are staying together as a group during the hike, having the right gear and checking the weather forecast ahead of time.
A lot of trails on the North Shore don’t have cell coverage, Markey said, so having a satellite communication device can be helpful when a person needs help.
“iPhone model 14 and newer, they’ve now got a satellite function so that you can use the cell phones, so they can actually communicate by satellite, as opposed to by cell tower,” he said.
for most cities across the Lower Mainland, including the North Shore. Rainfall amounts of 75 to 120 mm were expected until Sunday afternoon.
North Shore Rescue offered thanks to everyone who helped get the hiker to safety.
Abby Luciano is the Indigenous and civic affairs reporter for the North Shore News. This reporting beat is made possible by the .
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