Two hikers who became stranded at night on a trail near Vancouver were rescued early Saturday morning.
A man and woman in their early 20s called 911 Friday evening while hiking the Baden Powell Trail toward Eagle Bluffs and Cypress Mountain, said Simon Jackson, search manager with North Shore Rescue.
“They basically just researched the hike very quickly,” he said of the out-of-town visitors, who took a taxi to the trail head and started hiking late in the day.
“The hike took a lot longer than they anticipated,” said Jackson.
Though the pair had a light, they didn’t feel comfortable navigating the trail and terrain in the dark, he said.
Rescuers were able to locate the pair using co-ordinates from their cellphone and a five-person field team found them and escorted the hikers to safety around 3:20 a.m. PT.
The man and woman are in good health.
“Just cold, tired, hungry,” said Jackson.
He reminded hikers to prepare before embarking on any adventure, adding it’s important to either be prepared to hike in the dark or to adjust plans to avoid being out after nightfall.
North Shore Rescue recommends people bring 10 essential items with them when hiking.
All hikers should have a light, signalling device, fire starter, warm clothes, pocket knife, shelter, water and food, first-aid kit, navigation and communication device, like a cellphone, according to the group’s website. The list assumes people are wearing hiking boots and non-cotton clothes. The group encourages hikers to add to the list depending on the season or route.
The group also recommends hikers inform someone of their plans, including when they expect to return, and leave a detailed itinerary.