Partygoers jump ship..a bizarre story by the North Shore News...

North Shore News Article on last Saturday's rescue.

And some info on North Shore Trail Sense Days coming up this weekend.

The rescue season is in full swing.

I won't list all rescues since my last post, but this weekend we had a rescue Saturday morning for a missing 50 year old female. We found her in a gully in Crown Pass and she was long-lined out.
Saturday night was a rescue for a missing group of hikers behind Cypress.
Sunday was a medical rescue for a seriously injured subject up Indian Arm. The subject was evacuated via long line.

Some recent news articles -

CTV News Article and Video on Saturday Rescue

National Post Article

News 1130 Article

Another News 1130 Article

The North Shore Outlook just published a fairly lengthy article on the Theta Lake task from 2007.

http://www.bclocalnews.com/greater_vancouver/northshoreoutlook/news/21581514.html

Seymour Rescue - Medical Rescue
Yesterday afternoon we were paged out for a medical rescue on Mt. Seymour.

The subject had slipped 25 meters on snow, and hit a tree, badly breaking his femur. NSR quickly deployed resources to the field via chopper and the subject was long lined out and delivered to BC Ambulance at the Bone Creek SAR station.

CTV has some news coverage on it here - http://www.ctvbc.ctv.ca/ go to the 6 minute mark, and you need to watch the short ad first. Unfortunately this feed updates everyday, so it may not be up for long. I tried to grab the video off the site with no luck.

A few weeks ago I received an email through the website regarding a request for a helicopter ride for a terminally ill 3 year old boy. I immediately chatted with Tim (NSR Team Leader) and Peter Murray from Talon Helicopters. Tim and Peter contacted the family and set-up the ride.

North Shore News Article -
http://www.canada.com/northshorenews/news/story.html?id=ccc4ef30-9967-49db-ad80-9f4b33a0e0bb

I was just looking at the 2007 stats for NSR.

In 2007 NSR:
Volunteered 3004 hours on tasks (does not include many thousands of other hours for fundraising, training, education etc. - these usually exceed 20,000)
Involving 90 Subjects
11 Medical Rescues
6 Fatalities

The North Shore Credit Union Golf Tournament went extremely well. A HUGE thank you to everyone who came out and supported North Shore Rescue. We set a new fundraising record and the new North Shore 6 Rescue Truck was unveiled by Bro Jake from Rock 101. Funds from last years tournament helped make the purchase of the truck possible.

North Shore Credit Union, DTM, Uniglobe Geo Travel and many other companies came out in support of NSR.

I will be getting some more pics from the tournament but here is a quick snapshot of the new NS6.

The summer rescue season is starting to pick up...

There was a mutual aid call on Saturday to assist Lions Bay Search and Rescue with a stretcher evacuation.

There was second call on Sunday for mutual aid to Lions Bay as well. North Shore News Story - http://www.canada.com/northshorenews/news/story.html?id=8019f61b-ba6a-42f1-bc90-9aaa40a0e0c5.

Some quick updates:

• North Shore Credit Union Golf Tournament Fundraiser is this Friday. This is the biggest fundraiser of the year for us. We will have the unveiling of our new NS 6 - an F350 Rescue Truck at the event.
• Two weekends ago we had a body recovery for a male in Lyn Creek. We also had a rescue for a lost mountain biker in the Lyn Creek area.
• Last weekend was the rope rescue team member evaluation that was attended by a number of NSR members, including yours truly. Everyone did well, and passed with flying colours.
• Last weekend was the Capilano Gate SAR Station opening ceremony.
• North Shore News article on a recent search launched from the Cap Gate SAR Station
  
• Next weekend is the members in training evaluation - for all new NSR recruits they must pass a written and practical exam.
• Grouse Grind - looks like it is opening soon.
• This past week we saw quite a bit of avalanche activity in the coastal mountains as the snowpack went isothermal (fancy word for slush) - as the snow heats up and reaches 0 degrees, the snow loses all cohesion and slides. Pictures can be found here -http://www.telemarktalk.com/phpBB/viewtopic.php?p=634076#634076

After many months of hardwork NSR is pleased to announce the opening of the Capilano SAR (search and rescue) Station.

NSR would like to sincerely thank the various sponsors who provided funding, and all the volunteers who dedicated many hours to this project.

North Shore Credit Union, the mayors from N. Van District, N. Van City and W. Van, Metro Vancouver, a number of private donors, and a substantial individual private donation made the creation of the SAR station possible.

Find out more - read the North Shore News article...

It appears that Mr. Scotty Aiken is not only a killer avi-tech, he's got some pretty good writing skills as well...

This following was taken from the BC Ministry of Transportation Staff Newsletter, Spring 2007.


---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Mount Seymour Park Avalanche Task
Submitted by Scott Aitken, Snow Avalanche
Technician, Coast Chilcotin Avalanche Programs

“Hi Scott. It’s Bruce. We’re in a bit of a pickle here.”

The voice mail was from a fellow avalanche rescue dog handler (CARDA), friend and wilderness paramedic. It explained why my pager had come to life on a January
afternoon as we returned from field work in Cayoosh Pass and into cell range.

A call in reply quickly briefed me what the pickle jar looked like. North Shore Rescue teams (NSR) and a snowshoer with multiple injuries were hunkering down for second
night bivouacked out in heavy snow and high avalanche danger in Mt. Seymour Provincial Park. Canadian Forces 442 Rescue Squadron Cormorant helicopter crew had stood down after one attempt the previous day due to worsening weather.


The team’s location at Theta Lake was not far from the
ski hill base, but separated by 300 vertical metres of heinous
avalanche terrain down which the subject had fallen.
Paramedics had stabilized Chris Corey (sic: Morley), a lucky 36-year old
Coquitlam man and father of three as darkness fell the previous night. No helicopter extraction appeared likely soon as foul, wet, hypothermia inducing foggy weather lingered on the North Shore Mountains. Rationing had commenced of the limited fuel supply. Bruce,
John, Doug, Rolly, Tim and Gord weren’t yet in peril but
they weren’t getting any drier either.

To exacerbate things, there were fewer sleeping bags than rescuers.
Rapidly increasing avalanche danger had shut down the
rope rescue on Day 2. One of the most experienced rescuers,
Dave, had “gone for a ride” in an avalanche on a
mercifully short slope. Camp was moved when a naturally
triggered avalanche stopped five feet from the team in
their snow shelter. “What was that?” asked Chris when
the avalanche stopped. “Mother Nature,” replies Tim
Jones NSR team leader.


Bruce’s call was to request a professional avalanche control
team respond to blast and establish a safe rope rescue
corridor out of Theta Lake. “Let’s see,” I think. High
avalanche danger, mountain terrain shrouded in heavy
wet snow, numerous rescue personnel including snowmobiles
to control, and huge decision-making pressure
with a national media presence if we screw up with our
explosives...
“Sure we’ll be there at 7 a.m.,” I tell Bruce. This is a fairly
routine task for an avalanche technician and I’m confident
I can get there with my tools.

MoT Snow Avalanche Programs has made high reliability
an organizational principle. HQ has made managing
the unexpected easier for me today by forming a pre-plan
which includes an MOU with Provincial Emergency Program
(PEP) to provide expertise in response to avalanche
related SAR tasks. I’ve also got a new yellow ¾-ton pickup
equipped to haul explosives.

My program’s explosives are a two-hour round trip away
so I request Bruce to contact Whistler Blackcomb Resort
for more resources. When he calls back we conference
with Dave Sulina, briefing me thoroughly enough to make
a pre-plan.

Friday January 12, 0315 hrs and I am fairly well rested.
This stormy avalanche season has provided practice in
early sleeps for early starts! It’s more comfortable making
this double coffee than if I had just spent a second
night busted up in a snow cave in the forest I tell myself.

Moderate snow falls outside while breakfast is eaten in
silence in Whistler minus the morning news. I consider
the weather forecast and what my avalanche briefing with
North Shore Rescue had told me. A weak layer of surface
hoar crystals sitting under a 70 cm slab of wind driven
storm snow is not good. Put this combination over an old
ice crust and the result is perfect high avalanche danger
day. Crew safety today is my first and foremost concern.
This snowpack should react to explosive triggers. That’s
good.


I meet with the team at 0430 hrs, all pros from Blackcomb
Mountain Ski Patrol including friends Nigel Stewart and
Ken Nickel. Andrew “Haggis” Haig, and Jack Hurtabies
sled up to the explosives magazine on Blackcomb and
join us with ten explosive hand charges (shots) while I
do dangerous goods transport paperwork with “Cog” the
patrol director. Will this be enough? We’ll see if it’s more
than less. I rib sleepy looking Ken about his young girlfriend
not letting him sleep enough this AM. The crew
was called in from days off and typically upbeat.

I’ve radioed and phoned the road crew for Duffey Lake –
Bridge River for a snowfall updates of my own avalanche
patch the Coast - Chilcotin and updated my supervisor,
Brian Atkins. The dry side of the Coast Mountains is
lightly dusted today. I’m good to go.

Now Whistler SAR manager Brad Sills and I will drive south to meet 40 or 60
other SAR members at Mt. Seymour Ski Hill.
Doug Tuck, Assistant Avalanche Technician will be in at
0700 and out for a road patrol to cover our Highway #99
Rd #40 responsibilities. The Sea to Sky corridor avalanche
forecast is priority. Decker my CARDA dog sleeps away
in the back seat. It’s routine for him and I guess for me
too. So why is my stomach doing flip flops as we drive
south in the rain? Best eat some more food for the long
day in the snow whether the gut wants it or not.


The trip through the S2S construction is uneventful
other than the CBC radio news which we, the ‘avalanche
experts’ are now part of. I haven’t been in Mt. Seymour
Provincial Park for, let’s see, 23 years. We get to the foggy
ski hill parking lot and NSR’s mobile command post the
‘Bat Mobile’ is buried to nearly the top of its wheels in
storm snow. I let Decker out for a squirt behind the patrol
room turned search base. A NSR member guards the
explosives. It’s time to get briefed, look at maps, and make
a plan. These folks are organized which is good. I suit up
in MoT issue outerwear. Ten 1kg shots are transferred to
team packs and we’re off! No wait, the snowmobiles are
getting unstuck. As the TV cameras role we wait, talk,
joke, and laugh. All’s routine so far.


The sleds depart after quickly delivering us outside the
ski area boundary. We probe the snow with our ski pole
handles and feel the soft layers over the hard ice crust.
This is our first clue as to today’s stability.

It’s quiet on the ski tour to the NSR advance base camp
above our rope rescue corridor “The Staircase”. The subject
is only 1.5 km away from the ski lodge but it might as
well be 10 km for the effort this steep task will take. A lot
of resources are lined up behind us to make this happen.
All the tools in the tool box are available.

We confirm with Tim that he’s in a totally safe place. I
pull out the tools of my trade to do a test snow profile.
The snow gives up instability clues under my shovel and
snow saw: moderate compression test failing on the crust
surface hoar combo and a mid-slab moist layer. It should
go! I double check that Tim is in safe terrain. He fires a
parachute flair up and it comes from a safe spot. That’s
good. Nigel’s first shot rips out a size 2.5 slab avalanche
and as the other rescuers recover their heart rates at the
sudden bang, Tim reports the avalanche size at Theta
Lake which is the runout zone.

Now I have the unpleasant task of telling Rob, BC Park
Ranger that this terrain is too ‘sporty’ for his skill level on
telemark skis. He takes it well. Dave stays back too with his
big pack directing the rope teams. Now we’re a manageable
team of six.

Okay let’s go cautiously and keep track of all team members.
Every shot is releasing thick slabs of storm snow. Tim
reports avalanche sizes on the radio. The team members are
now moving to new shot placements. I again urge caution
since we’re now skiing on the icy crust which has shed its
new snow load.

The pros move like mountain goats over the steep terrain between
big trees. From above I hear a wild yell in panic from
Brad and fear the next sound will be a body thud. All goes
quiet except for his ski rattling down the gully to my right.
He has self arrested. Phew! That’s good! He has followed
Nigel’s exploratory tracks instead of mine and blown a ski
when he hit the crust. He’ll climb back up a bit to his ‘comfort
zone’ and wait to direct rope teams. S**t! Why didn’t I
give him ‘the hook’ with Rob? Why did he stray from my
tracks? Follow the guide is rule one! “Situational awareness,
Scotty,” I tell myself. “Look back as well as ahead.” That will
be one to debrief I think.

More shots yield more avalanches. Nigel and I take turns on
‘point’. We analyze the terrain, the hazards, and the path of
least resistance, and direct where the shots go. Several times
we retreat back up to a safer line and blast it clear when cliffs
block our descent.

We’re fully engaged, using all the mental and physical skills
accrued over decades of avalanche work. It’s still snowing
and the cloud is on the deck. Occasionally we hear Peter
Murray trying to pilot his ASTAR B2 helicopter in to Theta
Lake and wrap up this task. He can’t get past the white wall
of wet coast weather.

Noon passes with no thought of a lunch break. Then we throw our second last shot. We find
an exit through a steep walled gully and the staircase A/C
route ‘goes’. There’s the lake and the avalanche debris in the
run-out zone. We’re in the clear! As we ski out Andrew finds
a broken tree top under the snow surface. Pop goes his ski
in easy terrain and he thrashes head downhill in soft snow.
My stress lowers as we chuckle at his embarrassed pose and
ski down to Theta Lake.

Tim with his head poking from an orange garbage bag and the soggy rescue team emerge
from the forest happy to see us. Brad’s ski is recovered to be
stashed with the camp gear and retrieved later (and sharpened).
Nigel lights our last shot’s fuse and the detonation blackens
the snow beside the heli spot to help Peter with landing reference
in this white-on-white world. It’s rest time and we
chat, snack, and exchange information. I say hi to a bruised
and broken Chris who’s in good spirits and cracking jokes
thanks in part to a recent morphine injection in his butt.
Final diagnosis will include fractures to maxilla, mandible,
wrist, and leg as well as lost teeth and multiple contusions
and lacerations. He fell so hard pinballing through the trees,
that he arrived at the bottom minus a boot and snowshoe
and with a dislocated shoulder.

I count up the number of bums vs. helicopter seats and we’ll
be air lift number four. Not a chance today. We’ll kick a line
of steps back up the staircase route for the rescue team to
follow. See ya! I listen to the weather forecast from base: not
good but some hope for change around 1600 hrs. My team
is already in single file boot hiking up, skis strapped to packs.
I catch up and take my turn breaking trail bareheaded and
sweating under a wet Gore Tex shell back to the top of the
staircase.

I never actually see the helicopter half an hour later. Peter
arrives and departs by tenaciously flying tree top to tree top,
setting a line of way points on his GPS then retreating to
insure the weather window is still there behind him. Tim announces
over the radio that Chris is airborne for the hospital
after a “Vietnam style load & go”. We all cheer! Tim’s pride
is in the helicopter as his son is the receiving flight paramedic
on board. The overnight teams are going to boot hike out in
our tracks and won’t be out ‘til after dark. Emotions bubble
out of everyone involved. We’re stoked! This is fun being
out of our ‘bubble’ in new terrain with a different crew.

We climb past Bruce who is setting up the
rope raise. He grins and tells me Decker has
been cared for by base team members. He
is thorough as always and I tell him his call
was crucial. Ten more minutes and we top
out and chat briefly with the camp team who
give me a ham and cheese to go.

It’s foggy and nearly dusk at the Bat Mobile
and the media ignores us. We sign out and
head home as CBC is reporting the successful
conclusion, giving Peter the credit he
deserves. Tim thanks me via cell phone call
and I check-in with my understanding wife,
Melissa, and MoT offices. The number of
resources required for this task is sinking in
to my wet consciousness. The size of this effort
is not routine. Brad and I talk about his
near miss. No place for a fifty-three-year-old
he says.

Pique News Magazine, the local Whistler
paper prints a more sensationalized version:
“The Whistler-Blackcomb team, they just rock,” said Don
Jardine, a search manager for NSSR.

“They just did a fantastic job, man, just so impressive.”
“They dropped in on skis, bombing and blasting the whole
way down. They cleared the whole site down to where we had
the patient… and basically they stopped there, had a drink
of water, shook hands, and they were off back up.”

“It was like special-forces had parachuted in.”

Why wasn’t this emergency? It was routine because we
pre plan and practice. Why? Because we’re professionals.

-------------------------------------------------------------


I echo these comments - these guys rocked.

There was an article printed in the North Shore News regarding the January 2007 Theta Lake rescue. We greatly appreciate the exposure - thank you!

North Shore News Article


I thought I should clarify a few points in the article...

On morning of the 2^nd day the 5 member team consisting of Bruce Moffat (NSR), John Blown (NSR), Jeff Yarnold (NSR), Roland Webb (Coquitlam SAR) and Doug Brown (Lions Bay SAR) accessed Tim Jones and Gord Ferguson by hiking down to Theta Lake. The team then moved the subject into an area of safety, set-up shelter and dug the snow caves. This team remained at Theta lake until the following day when the team loaded the subject into the helicopter.

I also wanted to mention that the actions by the Blackcomb Ski Patrol and Highways Avi Techs provided an escape route for the 7 rescuers. Without these efforts we, the rescuers, would have been trapped for a number of more days facing depleting supplies of food, water, and fuel for the stove. These Avi Techs truly risked their lives to clear a route, and NSR greatly appreciates their help.

Again, i would like to thank the North Shore News for the exposure, it is very much appreciated. The North Shore News has always been a big supporter of North Shore Rescue and we depend largely on the press we receive to help increase our public donations.

RCMP Commendation

North Shore Rescue received a Commendation from the RCMP on Friday in regards to a rescue in January of 2007.

North Shore Rescue is honoured to receive this recognition from the RCMP.

At the ceremony NSR's Team Leader emphasized that there were over 100 individuals involved in this rescue, from many different organizations. Everyone worked together to ensure a successful rescue. NSR would like to thank all organizations involved including -

• Talon Helicopters
• Ministry of Highways Avalanche Control
• Black Comb Ski Patrol
• Mt. Seymour Resorts
• Squamish Snow Mobile Club
• Provincial Emergency Program
• Lions Bay SAR
• Coquitlam SAR
• Whistler SAR
• Squamish SAR
• Ridge Meadows SAR
• Kent Harrison SAR
• CARDA ( Canadian Avalanche Rescue Dog Association)
• BC Ambulance Service
• BC Parks
• Canadian Coast Guard
• North Vancouver City Operations Yard Garage
• North Shore Emergency Management Office
• RCMP
• Simon Chesterton

North Vancouver - North Shore Rescuers Awarded For Heroic Effort

On Friday, April 11th, 2008, three members of North Shore Rescue will get special Officer in Charge Commendations from the North Vancouver RCMP for a dangerous rescue last year.

Superintendent Gord TOMLINSON will present North Shore Rescuers Tim JONES and Gord FERGUSON, along with pilot Peter Murray of Talon Helicopters, with the award. Five other rescuers will also receive a unit commendation. The ceremony with be held at the Bone Creek Search and Rescue Station up the Seymour Demonstration Forest Road at 2:30pm.

On January 19th, 2007, 30-year-old Christopher MORLEY of Vancouver was snowshoeing on Mount Seymour when he fell over 100 metres down an icy slope near Theta Lake. MORLEY was badly hurt, and his partner, 36-year-old Simon CHESTERTON, could do no more than call for help.

Bog Author Note - Simon attempted to access Chris at risk to himself, as per our Task blog, and NSR would like to thank him as he was able to lead NSR to the location quickly via his celtel.

Rescuers JONES and FERGUSON were flown in to the general area to be with the injured man. However, it was getting late, visibility was terrible and conditions were icy. The rescue helicopters were grounded and both JONES and FERGUSON had to stay the night with MORLEY.

The next day was even worse. Over one foot of new snow pushed the avalanche risk to extreme. The rescuers’ snow shelter was nearly buried by cascades of snow. More rescuers were able to reach MORLEY but it was still too dangerous to bring him out. Both JONES and FERGUSON were among those who stayed behind for a second night.

On the third day, MURRAY’s skill as a pilot was severely tested. He hovered just above the ice so MORLEY could be loaded into the chopper and taken to safety. Over 85 people cooperated in the risky and accomplished effort to get MORLEY to safety. MORLEY, a carpenter and father of three, said from his hospital bed that he owed the rescuers his life.

The Theta Lake rescue highlights the good work done by rescuers on the North Shore. It also shows that even when you’re experienced and think you’re prepared, the backcountry is a dangerous place.

Released by:

Cst. Michael McLaughlin
Media Relations Officer/ Bicycle Section
North Vancouver RCMP

Rope Rescue Practice
Greenwood Park, North Vancouver 020823

North Shore Rescue team members participated in a rope rescue training session at Greenwood Park on Saturday to help hoan their skills for the coming evaluation in the Spring. It was a beautiful, mild and most importantly, a sunny day for the training. The skills that were practiced are extremely important to all SAR members and greatly enhance our ability to serve the public should they become injured or lost on the North Shore mountains.

The skills that were practiced included:

• Stretcher Rigging
• Vertical Raise/Lower
• Vertical/Raise Lower Systems
• Redirects
• Pretensioned Tie Backs
• Anchor Extensions
• Anchors
• Belay System
  
• Pickoff under tension
• Knot pass under tension (raise and lower)
• Rappeling

All these skills and more that were not practiced on this particular training session help to keep everyone current and able to respond with the utmost efficiency.

An avy video definitely worth watching - http://revver.com/video/310519/a-dozen-more-turns/

A few updates:

1. Last night we had a rescue for two lost snowboarders on Cypress. They were located in the Montezambert Creek area and we were out by about 1am. Avalanche conditions were detiorating and the last part of the post will speak to this.

2. Update - Man dies after Mt. Harvey Rescue - http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/news/westcoastnews/story.html?id=cb2076c3-e19d-42b5-9caa-581334452a3d - article says "Hardy" but this is a typo.

3. And..an avy advisory - be safe out there this weekend!!

Special Avalanche Warning for the North Shore Mountains

The Canadian Avalanche Centre (CAC) is issuing a Special Avalanche Warning for the North Shore Mountains of Vancouver and surrounding areas, including the Howe Sound Crest and extending east to the Coquihalla Summit. This warning is in place from Friday February 1 through Sunday February 3.

CAC Operations Manager John Kelly says there is an unusually weak layer in the snowpack of this region. “The colder weather earlier this month created this weakness,” he explains, “and we are concerned that recreational backcountry users in this area will not have much experience with this type of problem. Now, the recent new snow is making backcountry travel very attractive. We are issuing this warning to get the message out that an extra margin of safety is required for anyone traveling in the avalanche terrain this coming weekend.”

To increase safety margins, the CAC advises:
Stay on simpler terrain
Stay off steep slopes (steeper than the stairs in your house)
Avoid convex features, especially where the slope below is unsupported
Avoid terrain traps
Spread out when crossing avalanche runout zones.
Avoid avalanche start zones and tracks. If you must travel in these areas, go one at a time from safe point to safe point

Managing avalanche risk effectively requires an in-depth knowledge of the terrain and the snowpack. To reduce your risk, start with an Avalanche Skills Training course. The CAC’s website, avalanche.ca, has a list of course providers near you. Every person in your group needs appropriate rescue gear, and you should always consult the avalanche and weather conditions before heading out. Using the Avaluator, the CAC’s new avalanche decision-making tool, will also help you reduce your risk. Public avalanche forecasts and information reports can be obtained at avalanche.ca or by phone at 1-800-667-1105.

Helicopter Flight Rescue System (HFRS) Training - Sunday January 27th, 2008

On Sunday January 27th, 2008 North Shore Rescue team members participated in a skills workshop practicing pickoffs from steep snow slopes using HFRS. Team members arrived at Mount Seymour parking lot at 0800 and headed to the preselected exercise location. Upon arrival, NSR members put crampons on their boots and descended the 45 degree slope on ropes. The drill required the members on ropes, to dig a platform into the snow, from which a patient could be packaged, and a HFRS rescuer could land and remove the patient with the Aerial Rescue Platform. This was done by two teams of three, overseen by the technical instructors on site, Dave Sulina and Stan Sovdat.

When the platforms were completed, members placed a separate anchor for which the HFRS rescuer would anchor into upon landing. The purpose of this was to provide an independent attachment, should the helicopter be lifted by an updraft causing the rescuer to come up. In this situation rather than pulling everyones anchor, it would only affect the rescuer who is safely attached to the master attach point (map) of the helicopter long line.

Upon completing these tasks, members waited for the other portion of the exercise to get underway. The helicopter flown by Peter Murray of Talon Helicopters arrived at NSR Bone Creek helispot facility where the HFRS coordinator in training boarded the aircraft and flew to the training site to assess the weather and location. With variable weather, and the time frame of a skills workshop, the HFRS coordinator in training made the call to scrap the HFRS portion of the exercise. Overall the exercise was a tremendous success, with NSR members practicing essential skills, and the HFRS coordinator in training being given the opportunity to make a risk assessment call, which was the correct one.

Over the last few weeks there have been a number of rescues. This past weekend a climber was rescued from Mt. Harvey by Lions Bay and North Shore SAR. He was evacuated via stretcher with severe head trauma. At this point he is alive but his condition is unknown.

(Photo Credit: Wade Shaw)

At the beginning of January I also took the Canadian Avalanche Association Level 1 course in Fernie with Jimmy, Curtis, and Guy. This is a 7 day intensive Avalanche operations course, covering avalanche prediction, prepardness, terrain evaluation, snow study, beacon searching etc. The days were around 12 hours and started at 6:45am. Great course - lots of information. NSR has committed to providing more funds for members to take these kinds of courses to help improve safety while we are operating during times of poor snow stability.

FROM NORTH SHORE NEWS
Out-of-bounders trigger risky rescue
Father and son from PoCo put rescuers at risk from avalanche

Bethany Lindsay, North Shore NewsPublished: Wednesday, January 02, 2008

A father and his son are lucky to be home safe after getting trapped in deep snow when they deliberately snowboarded out-of-bounds at Grouse Mountain on Saturday.
The risky six-hour rescue has prompted North Shore Rescue and Grouse Mountain ski patrol to remind skiers and snowboarders that they aren't only risking their own lives when they choose to disrespect trail boundaries.
"If your own personal safety is not a good enough motivation to stay in-bounds, consider the safety of the people who have to find you," said Chris Dagenais, a spokesman for Grouse Mountain.

The 46-year-old father and his 14-year-old son, who live in Port Coquitlam, admitted during a debriefing with North Shore Rescue and the RCMP that they had deliberately climbed under the ropes at the top of the Olympic chairlift to enter the gully system between Thunderbird Ridge and Fromme Mountain. At 3:30 p.m., they found themselves in snow too deep to snowboard or walk through, and called 9-1-1.
Members of the mountain's ski patrol team managed to find the general location of the two men, and stayed in voice contact with them until North Shore Rescue volunteers arrived with back-up recruited from Coquitlam and Lions Bay and avalanche dogs from the Canadian Avalanche Association.
Ski patrollers were stationed near the top of the gully to monitor snow conditions, while North Shore Rescue sent an advance "hasty" team up into the gully, with two support teams below in case of an avalanche.
"I cannot overemphasize that there was a very real danger to the hasty team," Jones said. The snow in the gully reached their chests, and it was snowing heavily. "This was not a normal search operation."
The hasty team traversed the approximately 150 metres uphill on snowshoes to reach the trapped men shortly before 9 p.m.
As the rescue team was working its way out of the gully with the two snowboarders, who were cold but uninjured, Jones received word from the ski patrol above that they had seen several small avalanches.
The team managed to reach the rescue base safely, but "it was a very tense 45 minutes for all of us," Jones said.
Avalanches aren't the only danger for people who go off the marked trails, Dagenais said. The boundaries also keep skiers safe from steep waterfalls, cliffs, fallen trees, rocks, and dangerous ice.
"Out of bounds means out of bounds," Dagenais said. "It gets pretty frustrating when, year after year, you see people knowingly transgressing these boundaries."
Jones said that he hates making the choice to gamble the lives of his volunteers, many of whom are young men with families, to rescue people who have knowingly entered backcountry areas without the proper equipment and training.
"This was a completely unnecessary call," Jones said. "There has to be a level of respect for what the volunteer search and rescue people are asked to do."
The ski hill will give the snowboarders a few days to recuperate before revoking their season's passes.

Google Earth Image of Rescue Route (credit: Doug Pope)

Last Sunday was an HFRS (helicopter flight rescue system) also known as HETS (helicopter external transport system) training day to practice HFRS awareness and skills. The day consisted of long lining Kayak team members into a location beside the Seymour River. Non-HFRS members where also involved in assisting and getting training in HFRS procedures, including an orientation flight.

Mike - HFRS Coordinator in Training.

Fiona - Decked out in dry suit, swift water rescue equipment, and HFRS gear.

The debrief.

Last Saturday was an Escape trail marking day. NSR has "escape" trails set-up on the North Shore mountains designed to help lost snowboarders, skiiers and hikers off the mountain. They are located in strategic spots and areas that traditionally have seen lost skiiers or snowboarders go into. They also assist search teams that are escorting lost subjects out of the field. These are not "trails" - more accurately they are marked bushwacking routes, and are not designed for the recreational hiker. They are also designed to be difficult to locate from any main trail so they do not mislead day hikers. As well, many of them go through watersheds closed to the public - so....to state the obvious please do not try to find them, or use them.

Saturday we were marking an escape trail off of the East side of Mt. Seymour. We were all surprised to find a few feet of snow at the top of Seymour, and snow in the parking lot. The first part of the day consisted of wading through thigh deep snow, and then as we descended we got into slush, sleet, mud and bushwacking. By the end of the day we had nailed up two hundred flashers, used 24 rolls of flagging tape, placed two sets of fixed ropes, and posted 4 Escape Trail signs.

We exited in the North Indian Arm area - where the only exit is by boat - and we were picked up by the Coast Guard Auxillary.

Overall a fun wet muddy day.

Late Sunday night my pager went off for two missing females in Lynn Headwaters Park.

We found them within a few hours and they were doing well.


News 1130 reported on the incident -

Monday, October 15 - 06:25:00 AM Kate Forman
NORTH VANCOUVER (NEWS1130) - Two hikers are safe today after getting lost in the North Shore Mountains. The 22-year old women were following the Lynn Loop Trail in Lynn Headwaters when they got caught in the dark.
Don Jardine with North Shore Rescue says it can happen when sunshine draws people to the great outdoors. He says there has been a lot of people hiking in that area all weekend. He says if you do get caught overnight and you're lost, just stop, use your cell phone if you have one and wait for someone to get you.
Jardine says because it does get dark earlier, hikers should plan to be back at the parking lot before dark or take a flashlight with them. Both women are okay and not hypothermic.

Nice blog Guy -

http://guyzblog.blogspot.com/

A comment on the Ladysmith Rescue -

I was just doing some research on our local SAR group when I came across this article. The following link will take you to pictures of this incident and I must say there was quite a difference between the two helicopters ;-)http://www.flickr.com/photos/oceanviews/sets/72157600431833654/

Cheers
LenCanexus
Hazmat ERT

Recent article in the North Shore News -
Rescue biz is a family affair.

Worth reading just for Tim's comments - always a master of the sounds bites ;-).

This past weekend I recently completed the rope rescue team member course in Sqaumish, along with Rich G., Guy T., Mike L., and Curtis J. One of our intructors Ken Gallant did not attend due to a climbing accident the previous weekend.

Ken Gallent a veteran member of Ridge Meadows SAR was seriously injured in a 60 foot fall while climbing in the Squamish area on September 15.

At the present time, Ken is currently in hospital and is expected to recover despite extensive injuries.

He fell when a knot failed while rappeling off of the hydro tower at the Sugar Loaf climbing area in Murrin Park. The picture below is myself doing the same rappel last month.

From all of us at NSR we wish Ken a speedy recovery.

Submitted by Tim Jones NSR SAR MGR- Field Recovery Leader


North Shore Rescue was tasked by The RCMP and BC Coroners Service Aug 19th to recovery the body of a young pilot from the wreckage of a light plane that had crashed into rugged terrain north of the top of the Indian Arm. Three survivors had been rescued by CAF 442 Squadron the previous evening.

Ten members and two Talon helicopters were involved in this operation which required extensive preplanning and equipment application to ensure a safe recovery due to fuel concerns and marginal weather conditions. As we could not see the actual crash site this required an extensive preplan with backup resources and manpower. The operation was launched from our new SAR Station at GVRD Bone Creek in the Seymour Valley.

NSR member Erik Bjarnson who is also a North Vancouver City Firefighter was deployed with special vehicle extrication equipment and protective equipment on loan via North Vancouver City Fire Dept. Special thanks to Assistant Chief Bob Schriner for authorizing this equipment loan.

Due to the weather concerns a full forward operating kit, a suitcase VHF radio and MSAT and portable power and medical equipment were deployed also

Once on scene via a hover exit myself and fellow member Dave Sulina approached the aircraft and confirmed the need for a full response. As we assessed the aircraft and hazards, team members Curtis Jones and Mike Danks were hover exited with chains saws to clear a path through heavy slash from the aircraft to an evac point.

Meanwhile Dave and I had a hooligan extrication tool with us and Dave was quickly able to pop off the door so we could accurately assess the situation which luckily for us was not as complicated as we originally thought.

I was able to radio out using my ICOM F70 with an extendable 2M antenna and communicate on our Mt Cathedral Repeater 5by 5 to my fellow SAR MGR Al McMordie who was coordinating the operations with Squamish RCMP Sgt .Peter Cross from Bone Creek. We quickly adjusted our plan due to excellent communications so as to stage the bulk of the resources and extrication equipment at a lower staging and expedite the recovery ( using our "portable human hoist"- Curtis Jones) out of the aircraft and conduct a quick sling recovery due to worsening weather conditions.

Once again excellent flying by Talon Pilot Brian Douglas on the close hover exits and sling operations under marginal flying conditions.

This operation demanded extensive preplanning, flexible adjustments and sound communications to be successful.

Great work to all my team members and the pilots of Talon Helicopters.

Tim Jones
SAR MGR and Field Recovery Leader

For members who were not on the team in 1996, we had a hardcore rescue just above the Elsay Lake Trail ( above Gopher Lake). A young boy scout named Phillp Gander fell almost 1000 feet down the gully system between 1st and 2nd Peak on Seymour.

He was an unconscious head injured patient who was seizuring when Don Jardine and I arrived via a no light jump off the skids helicopter rescue.

To make long story short I had to knock out his breathing and seizuring with some good drugs and then do a blind intubation to secure his airway and breath for him. CAF 442 squadron did a miraculous night time winch.

He spent 19 days in a coma and then woke up!

He and his mom Rosemary and brother Adam have never forgot about what we did that night. When Phil called me, he wanted me to meet him and his brother and scout troop for a hike this past Sunday August 12 th, to the spot where he fell and finally had the courage to visit .

It was quite an emotional moment for Phil and I was honored to be there.

There were many NSR members involved in this call . Allan McMordie in the 442 helicopter as a guide, Don J, Stan S , Gord F and many more....

Phillip Gander will shortly become a PHD ( McMasters) specializing in head injury trauma recovery.

Tim Jones (posted by John)

Dog found alive after a month lost on Mt. Seymour
Owner never gave up hope of finding Aniki
James Weldon, North Shore NewsPublished: Wednesday, August 01, 2007

A Vancouver man and his beloved dog were reunited Saturday after the canine spent nearly a month lost and alone in the North Shore wilderness.
The reunion was made possible by a lot of hard work, a lot of luck and -- oddly -- a set of lost keys.
Aniki, a four-year-old Rottweiler cross, vanished June 30 after owner Nam Hoang was forced to abandon the much-loved dog in a rugged area of Mount Seymour in order to save his own life.


Hoang had been walking Aniki and another dog on the mountain's first peak when he was forced to turn around because of Aniki's bad hip, which had recently undergone surgery. On the way down, Hoang inadvertently took a wrong turn and wound up descending into the Shone Creek drainage, one of the most arduous and dangerous areas of the North Shore.

They quickly got out of their depth, and within hours, Aniki, exhausted and in pain, collapsed. With the sun setting, and his dog unable to move, Hoang made the heartbreaking decision to leave Aniki there and continue on with the other dog, promising to return.

After a cold night spent on the mountain, Hoang emerged weak and dehydrated from the forest. He attempted to return for the dog but was unable to. Two friends went back to the mountain the following day, but were also forced to turn back, barely escaping the area themselves.
When the North Vancouver RCMP got wind of Hoang's plight, they passed the story on to members of North Shore Rescue, who decided to help. Hoang offered to cover the substantial cost of a helicopter to fly two members -- team leader Tim Jones and rescuer Doug Pope -- into the area to track Aniki. After a full day of searching, the pair located the dog's tracks, but found no sign of the missing pooch.

Over the following weeks, Hoang and other searchers returned to the mountain almost every day. With no trace of his cherished animal, Hoang's hopes began to falter. "Honestly, after the third week, my hopes were shaken," he said.
Then the impossible happened. On Saturday afternoon, Hoang received a call from North Shore Rescue. Aniki had been found alive.

Orson Moritz, a professor at the University of British Columbia, was hiking up the trail in search of some keys he had dropped earlier in the day, when he came upon the dog some 2 kilometres from where it had been lost. Moritz recognized Aniki from a poster. With the help of some other hikers, he managed to slip a rope around the dog's neck and lead it down the mountain. On the way, he was met by Jones and other members of North Shore Rescue, who were hiking up in response to another reported sighting. Jones put the dog in his car, drove to his house and called Hoang, who rushed immediately to North Vancouver. The reunion was an emotional one.
"He was crying. They both leaned their heads together. They just stayed like that," said Jones. "It was very touching, actually."
For Hoang it was very simple. "He's family," he said. "You would do the same if he were one of your family members."
Hoang took Aniki to a veterinarian, who pronounced the dog in good health. Aniki had lost 25 pounds, but was otherwise unharmed. The dog is recovering at home, and has already been out for walks.

"I feel a lot of relief," said Hoang. "The worst part was not knowing if he was still alive." Hoang credited a long list of Good Samaritans with the happy outcome.