Search and Rescue members were involved in the dramatic rescue of an injured hiker late on July 19.

The Ambulance Service received a call for assistance with a report of a female hiker injured. Search and Rescue were dispatched to locate and extract the subject, with initial reports suggesting that she would not be far off the main trail near the creek. It turned out that the pair of hikers were actually a long way up the mountain, having followed a very steep drainage down from the top of the mountain, with one of them eventually slipping and falling down a loose rocky section resulting in a number of injuries including a badly injured ankle.

Due to poor weather and very difficult terrain it took some time to locate the hikers by helicopter, with SAR members then being dropped higher up the mountain where it was safer to get out and then scramble down to the hikers and offer first aid and assess extraction options.

Due to the steep terrain and the fact that the injured hiker was difficult to move a request was made for longline helicopter rescue but with little daylight left this was not available. FSAR members eventually assisted the injured party to an exposed ridge where the helicopter was able to hover and the party and their two dogs were loaded and extracted back to Fernie where they were met by the ambulance service.

This call volume draws heavily on volunteer time and energy and the valley is fortunate to have so many dedicated individuals willing to give up their evenings and nights to help others.