Two Island search and rescue teams combined forces to save a group of injured mountaineers Tuesday, Oct. 6.
The Campbell River and Comox Valley Search and Rescue teams collaborated for a smooth rescue operation, after word was received that the three male hikers had fallen from a glacier below KingB次元官网网址檚 Peak - a mountain in Strathcona Park.
Campbell River Search and Rescue (CRSAR) volunteer Tim Fairbanks was one of the volunteers who responded to the call.
B次元官网网址淭hey were travelling on the glacier, all attached to the same rope, which is normal procedure,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淥ne of them had a faulty or damaged crampon (a traction device mountaineers attach to their footwear) and that individual took a slip, which caused the start of the fall.B次元官网网址�
The other two party members used their ice axes to slow down the fall.
B次元官网网址淭hey performed that properlyB次元官网网址� and prevented a worse accident, because they were able to slow themselves down. But in the course of the sliding and tumbling, thatB次元官网网址檚 where the injuries occurred.B次元官网网址�
Fairbanks said the hikers did everything correctly.
B次元官网网址淲e have no criticism of how they were prepared,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淭he satellite emergency response equipment was key.B次元官网网址�
CRSAR received the emergency notification at dusk on Monday, and because it was a two-way response device, rescue personnel were able to communicate with the mountaineers to assess the situation.
B次元官网网址淣ot all these devices offer two-way communicationB次元官网网址� this one was two-way, so they were able to say B次元官网网址榳e have suffered minor injuries and we are hunkering down for the night where we are.B次元官网网址� So we told them we would come and get them at first light,B次元官网网址� said Fairbanks. B次元官网网址淲e were able to fly in the next morning and spot them from the aircraft immediately.B次元官网网址�
While the team reached the camp quickly, weather provided some challenges for the extraction of the injured climbers.
B次元官网网址淭here was a bit of a waiting game, as we had clouds moving out,B次元官网网址� said Fairbanks. B次元官网网址淭hen when the clouds finally cleared, then the wind picked up.B次元官网网址�
The hoist team made numerous approaches, but aborted several times, returning to base and lighten the cargo load.
B次元官网网址淚n the end they left all the technicians on the ground, leaving just the pilot and the hoist operatorB次元官网网址� two of us on the ground with the subjects were also hoist trained, so we were qualified to [load the hoist],B次元官网网址� said Fairbank, who offered a specific shout-out to the helicopter pilot.
B次元官网网址淚 often point out that we are just the dummies on the ground and the real heroes are the pilots. They are so skilled.B次元官网网址�
Fairbanks said the operation took about two hours from the time they reached the injured climbers, to the time the scene was cleared.
A total of seven search and rescue personnel were involved in the rescue.
B次元官网网址淚t went exactly how we train for these things,B次元官网网址� said Fairbanks.
KingB次元官网网址檚 Peak mountain is located 25 kilometres northeast of Gold River and two kilometres north of Elkhorn Mountain.
terry.farrell@blackpress.ca
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