4 stranded hikers rescued from snowy conditions on North Shore mountain

Lions Bay Search and Rescue and North Shore Rescue helped four stranded hikers on the Mount Brunswick Trail on Saturday, May 16. (Courtesy: Lions Bay SAR/Facebook)

Search and rescue volunteers were called to the Mount Brunswick Trail near Lions Bay, B.C., Saturday night to help four stuck hikers.

Lions Bay SAR says the group became stranded in steep, snowy and slippery conditions. A search team hiked to the subjects, but due to the time of day and temperature they opted to call North Shore Rescue to extract the hikers via helicopter.

Search manger Daphne Hamilton-Nagorsen said the hikers were uninjured, as once they realized they were in a difficult situation they stayed put.

“This incident serves as another reminder that Mount Brunswick is still under winter conditions and is not suitable for travel in running shoes. Proper footwear and winter mountain gear is needed for this route,” Lions Bay SAR wrote in a social media post Sunday.

The organization has had to rescue several hikers in recent weeks who were ill-equipped for the weather, including a group wearing shorts and running shoes on the Howe Sound Crest Trail who also got stranded in the snow.

“In the alpine it’s still winter, and it’s still going to be winter for awhile,” Hamilton-Nagorsen told CTV News.  “There’s been all the stories about low snowpack but that doesn’t mean no snowpack.

She added that running shoes are not sufficient for most of the terrain in the area, especially not at this time of year.

Read more: ‘Most dangerous time of the year’: Lions Bay SAR called to 5 incidents in a week

“For all hikers, having the proper gear for your trip is essential. This should include food and water, proper footwear, headlamp and batteries, cellphone and charger, and warm layers regardless of elevation,” the post continues.

“Hikers are also encouraged to research the current conditions as part of their trip planning process, as well as the time needed to complete the hike before dark.”