Lions Bay Search and Rescue

10/19/2026

Join this awesome session if you can

SAR Volunteer Tyler Duncan from Squamish Search and Rescue.

10/18/2026

So Close, Yet So Far: 100 Metres Above Highway 99
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A challenging rescue above Highway 99
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Yesterday, Lions Bay Search and Rescue responded to a stranded hiker above Highway 99 who had attempted an unconventional route to Bowen Lookout.
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Rather than taking an established hiking trail, the hiker parked along Highway 99 and began making his way uphill through Montizambert Creek. There is no hiking trail in this area.
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After traversing toward Strip Creek, he realized he wasn't going to reach his destination and decided to turn around. While descending, he slipped and fell into the drainage. He sustained some cuts but was otherwise uninjured. Unfortunately, he was now stranded in extremely challenging terrain.
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The hiker had a headlamp but was wearing Vans shoes, which were poorly suited to the steep, slippery terrain. After falling into the water, he was also getting cold.
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A COMPLICATED RESCUE
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Although the subject was only about 100 metres above Highway 99, reaching him was anything but straightforward.
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The highway corridor is bordered by steep cliff walls extending for approximately a kilometre. Sections of the rock face have been stabilized with sprayed concrete, rebar and fencing. Multiple power lines run above and below the area, further complicating the possibility of a helicopter rescue.
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We deployed two teams to investigate different access routes.
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The first team attempted a traverse from the north side of Montizambert Creek toward Strip Creek. Progress was agonizingly slow through dense brambles, clearcuts, and extensive blowdown.
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Meanwhile, a second mountain rescue team searched for a route directly up from the highway. They encountered steep Class 4 terrain, thick vegetation, and trees that could serve as anchors.
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After finding a viable route through the cliffs, the mountain rescue team traversed approximately 100 metres to reach and secure the subject.
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A fixed rope was established, allowing additional rescuers to ascend with equipment and supplies for the subject.
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The team then constructed a rope rescue system and lowered the subject down the cliff with an accompanying rescuer. The remaining rescuers rappelled to the bottom.
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Once safely down, the hiker was provided with warm clothing and received a medical assessment. He declined ambulance transport.
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The lesson: research your route
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Unconventional routes don't always go. What looks like a manageable approach on a map can quickly become impassable when confronted with steep rock, dense vegetation, unstable terrain, and cliffs.
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This is particularly important in our coastal mountains, where descending into drainages can lead to increasingly steep terrain, waterfalls, and cliffs with no safe way forward.
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In this case, the hiker was only 100 metres from the highway, but those 100 metres required a technical mountain rescue operation.
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Distance alone tells you very little about how difficult terrain will be to navigate.

10/11/2026

🍁 HAPPY THANKSGIVING FROM OUR SAR FAMILY TO YOURS! 🍁
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This Thanksgiving, we have so much to be grateful for.
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We're thankful for our incredible volunteers who give their time, energy, and dedication to helping others. For the families behind the scenes who support them, often putting their own plans on hold when the call comes in. For our rescue partners who work alongside us, and for our wonderful community that continues to support our team.
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We're also grateful for all of you who follow our adventures, read our stories, share our safety messages, and help us spread the word about mountain safety.
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As you head outdoors this holiday weekend, remember that the days are getting shorter, the temperatures are dropping, and winter conditions are already arriving in the alpine. Plan accordingly, pack those extra layers, and give yourself plenty of daylight.
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From our SAR family to yours, we wish you a wonderful Thanksgiving filled with warmth, gratitude, and time with the people you love. 🧡
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Stay safe out there!
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🍁 Lions Bay Search and Rescue

10/10/2026

Slippery trail? Traction means action. 🥾❄️In this NEW Pack Like a...

10/09/2026

THE RISE OF AI IN MOUNTAIN TRIP PLANNING
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We're seeing an emerging pattern of hikers using AI and digital tools to plan mountain adventures, particularly among younger people. It's happening here in the Sea to Sky corridor and around the world.
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In April 2025, we rescued two hikers on Unnecessary Mountain who had used ChatGPT and Google Maps to plan their trip. This summer, three teenagers underestimated the Howe Sound Crest Trail after relying on Google Maps. More recently, North Shore Rescue rescued a 16-year-old from technical terrain on Crown Mountain after he used Claude alongside other planning tools. Similar AI-assisted planning incidents have resulted in rescues in Poland, Germany and California.
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Young people are often called digital natives, but growing up with technology doesn't necessarily mean knowing how to evaluate it. Research shows that teenagers use AI frequently and many recognize that it makes mistakes. The problem is knowing when a particular answer needs to be questioned. Researchers call one aspect of this automation bias: our tendency to trust automated recommendations without independently verifying them.
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AI isn't going away. Neither are Google Maps, AllTrails or social media. These tools are convenient, accessible, and often genuinely useful. Rather than telling people not to use them, perhaps it's time we teach people how to ask better questions, recognize the limitations, and verify the answers.
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THE QUESTIONS MATTER
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People trust AI because it's readily available and it generally works. Imagine asking AI ten questions and receiving eight correct answers. You quickly learn to trust the technology. The problem is that the two incorrect answers may be delivered with exactly the same confidence as the correct ones.
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If AI gets the closing time of a coffee shop wrong, you're inconvenienced. If it gets an alpine route wrong, the consequences can be serious. The greater the consequence, the greater the need to verify.
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So how do we learn to ask better questions? There's a bit of a chicken-and-egg problem.
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The quality of an AI answer depends partly on the quality of the question. The quality of the question depends partly on the user's expertise.
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Consider someone asking ChatGPT:
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"Is Tunnel Bluffs a good hike for beginners?"
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AI might provide the distance, elevation gain, estimated time and a difficulty rating of moderate. All useful information, but moderate for whom? A fit trail runner? Someone who hikes every weekend? Someone attempting their first mountain hike?
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An experienced mountain traveller knows these numbers and labels don't tell the whole story. They understand how elevation affects travel time, how terrain and weather change difficulty, and why a published hiking time may not reflect their own pace. They know what information is missing, which sources to consult and when something doesn't add up.
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Novices don't just lack some of the answers. They may not know which questions to ask in the first place.
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That's why prompt framing itself is becoming a safety skill.
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FACTS, NOT ADJECTIVES
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We recently tested this using Tunnel Bluffs.
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AllTrails reviews posted within days of one another described the same trail as both moderate and hard. One hiker said it wasn't particularly difficult. Another described the first two kilometres as brutal.
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We don't know whether the person writing "easy" is a professional athlete or whether "hard" came from someone completing their first hike.
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Recent trail reports are valuable for understanding conditions such as mud, snow, washouts and creek crossings. They're less reliable as a measure of whether a particular hike is appropriate for you.
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Instead of asking AI whether a hike is “difficult” or “easy”, ask it to describe the terrain: distance, elevation, steepness, exposure, scrambling and current conditions.
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Then ask AI to compare those demands with your actual experience. Better yet, have it interview you before making a recommendation.
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TEACH AI TO ASK YOU QUESTIONS
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Rather than asking AI to immediately recommend a hike, give it a different job.
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Try this prompt:
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"I'm a novice hiker considering [name of hike]. Before deciding whether this hike is appropriate for me, ask me about my actual hiking experience, fitness, terrain experience, navigation skills and equipment. Don't rely on labels like beginner or intermediate. Ask about hikes I've actually completed.
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Then help me assess the route using AdventureSmart's Three Ts and Trip Plan. Check the distance, elevation, terrain, exposure, current conditions, weather at elevation, daylight and realistic return time. Identify anything I haven't considered, explain what might be uncertain or outdated, provide original sources and tell me what I need to independently verify before leaving. If you don't have enough information to assess whether the hike is appropriate for me, ask follow-up questions rather than making assumptions."
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Instead of simply supplying an answer, AI can help inexperienced hikers identify questions they didn't know to ask.
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During our Tunnel Bluffs experiment, AI couldn't retrieve the latest trail reviews. Yet when we opened AllTrails ourselves, we found reports from the previous day and shared them with the chatbot.
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Just because AI couldn't find the information doesn't mean it doesn't exist.
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Furthermore, asking AI, "Are you sure?" or "Double-check that" isn't independent verification.
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Open the sources. Check their dates. Compare route information against reliable hiking or topographic maps. Use mountain weather forecasts, recent trip reports in hiking forums, and local knowledge.
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Remember that even a well-researched route can become inappropriate when conditions change. If the terrain in front of you doesn't match your plan, recognize that discrepancy early enough to turn around safely.
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CONCLUSION
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AI can help you discover adventures, explore routes and identify things you haven't considered. It can be a great starting point, but the questions you ask and your ability to evaluate the answers make a difference.
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The greater the consequence, the greater the need to verify.
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Stop using unverified AI information to make decisions in the mountains.

10/08/2026

Night Vision! Long lines! Hoist! Human External Cargo!Hoist Op...

10/06/2026

Too much of a good thing
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Lions Bay Search and Rescue responded to another call on Mount Brunswick after a hiker found herself caught out after dark.
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The subject had started her hike late in the day and turned around approximately 1 km from the summit. She didn't have enough warm layers for the dropping temperatures, her phone battery was running low, and her headlamp — purchased earlier that day — was malfunctioning. She had no spare batteries.
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She did, however, have 8 litres of water.
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We regularly remind people to carry enough water on Brunswick because there are no reliable water sources along the route. However, preparedness is about balance. Eight litres is approximately 8 kg (17.6 lb) of weight. At this time of year, with cooler temperatures and generally lower sweat rates, around 3 litres would have been a much more reasonable amount for most hikers, with some of that weight better allocated to warm layers, a power bank and reliable lighting.
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There's another important lesson here: new equipment isn't tested equipment.
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If you buy a headlamp, satellite communicator, power bank or any other piece of safety equipment, don't discover how it works when you need it. Charge it fully, learn how to use it and test it at home before taking it into the mountains. For something as critical as lighting, carry spare batteries or a backup light.
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Our days are getting significantly shorter. Even if you plan to be home well before sunset, always carry a headlamp and prepare for the possibility that your hike takes longer than expected.
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Prepare for the whole day, not just one hazard.

10/04/2026

Ankle Injury on Brunswick
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Lions Bay Search and Rescue responded to an injured hiker on Mount Brunswick this afternoon.
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Two teenagers were descending the mountain when one slipped on loose rock and injured their ankle. They were well prepared, carrying an excellent first aid kit that included an instant ice pack and tensor bandages. They were able to stabilize and care for the injury while waiting for rescuers.
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Unfortunately, the injury was non-weight-bearing, and given their location and the difficult terrain, we requested assistance from North Shore Rescue for a helicopter hoist extraction.
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The descent from Mount Brunswick is steep, loose and unforgiving. Slips on loose rock can happen very quickly. We highly recommend hiking poles and supportive, ankle-protecting footwear for this type of terrain.
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These teenage girls did a lot right today: they carried appropriate equipment, knew how to use their first aid supplies, and called for help when they realized they couldn't safely continue.
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The bear spray they were carrying, was gifted to other hikes since we can't take it onboard the aircraft.
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A big thank you to North Shore Rescue and Talon helicopters for another quick and seamless response.

09/29/2026

What’s your best trail advice you’ve learned over time? We like this little initiative from MEC - so we are asking our readers too :)

We’d add…”The mountain will always be there tomorrow” and

“The summit is optional, you coming home is not”.

09/29/2026

IT'S A BIRD... IT'S A PLANE... IT'S A HELICOPTER!
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If you're hiking or camping along the Howe Sound Crest Trail, you may see the familiar yellow Talon helicopter approaching. Sometimes it's grey. Either way, when you see us working with one in the mountains, there's a good chance a rescue is underway.
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Here are a few things we want you to know.
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Helicopters are fundamental to how Lions Bay Search and Rescue operates. We don't have a network of access or logging roads into our steep mountain terrain, so getting rescuers to a subject often means approaching from the air.
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Approximately 60% of our calls involve helicopter operations, and LBSAR performs more helicopter hover entries and exits than any other SAR team in the province.
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WHY ARE WE CIRCLING?
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We can't simply “land” anywhere in the alpine.
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When we arrive, the pilot and rescue crew first need to take a look. We're assessing terrain, wind, obstacles and possible locations to safely get rescuers in and the subject out.
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We may circle several times, come close and pull away, or drop rescuers somewhere safer and have them hike to you. We may then move you to a better extraction point.
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The helicopter may return to base while we work or disappear temporarily for fuel.
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That's all normal. Watching the helicopter fly away does not mean we're leaving you behind.
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Hover entries and exits are demanding procedures requiring suitable terrain, safe conditions and absolute coordination between the pilot and rescue crew. Every year, our members certify with our pilots in day and night hover operations, helicopter safety and awareness, and the nuances of the different aircraft we use.
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We need 100% trust in our pilots, and they need the same from us.
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IF A HELICOPTER IS APPROACHING YOU
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We know you want to film it, but we also need you to pay attention.
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Secure everything and get out of the way.
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This is particularly important at popular locations such as Tunnel Bluffs, Magnesia Meadows and Brunswick Lake, where we may need to bring a helicopter into an area occupied by hikers or campers. Some locations are designated helicopter landing zones and are marked with signs.
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Packs, clothing and loose equipment can become airborne. Tents are particularly dangerous — they can turn into giant box kites, and tent pegs will not hold them. Pack your tent if you have time. If you don't, physically secure it —pull the suport poles down, then sit in it or on it, and put bags on top. Also watch out for dead branches above you and unstable trees.
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Then give the aircraft lots of room.
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Helicopter downwash is no joke. Crouch down, protect your eyes with sunglasses if you have them and cover or plug your ears. Never approach the aircraft unless directed by a rescuer or crew member, and never move uphill toward the rotor blades or go under the tail rotor.
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If you're the person being evacuated, we'll come to you. We'll guide you toward the aircraft and may physically hold onto you as we move. Follow our directions and don't make sudden movements.
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Moving in and out of a hovering helicopter is a carefully coordinated dance — deliberate, controlled and precise. The pilot can feel every movement and every transfer of weight as people, equipment and bags enter or exit the aircraft, and must continuously compensate to keep the machine stable.
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Move slowly and deliberately. Slow is smooth. Smooth is fast.
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BEAR SPRAY: If you're carrying bear spray, tell us before approaching the helicopter. Bear spray cannot come inside the cabin. Depending on the operation, we'll secure it outside the aircraft or it may need to be left behind.
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FIRES: If you have a fire, tell us and extinguish it completely. Downwash can reignite embers and scatter them across the surrounding wilderness.
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AT NIGHT: If the helicopter is still well away from you, shining your headlamp toward us can help us identify your location. Once the helicopter is approaching, point your headlamp at the ground — never toward the cockpit. Our pilots may be operating with night-vision goggles, which amplify available light.
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And NEVER, EVER point a laser at a helicopter. It has happened to our aircraft before. A laser can temporarily blind or disorient a pilot and put everyone onboard — and people on the ground — at risk.
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CLOUDS
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Especially at this time of year, rain and unstable mountain weather bring another limitation: cloud ceilings.
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We cannot simply fly through cloud to reach you. Mountain helicopter operations require adequate visual reference.
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You may be sitting in cloud while the helicopter is flying below you. Sometimes rescuers need to approach on foot and move a subject below the cloud ceiling before an extraction is possible.
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A HUGE THANK YOU TO TALON
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We can't finish this without recognizing the extraordinary team at Talon Helicopters — the pilots, crew chiefs, hoist operators and everyone behind the scenes who makes these operations possible.
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We ask a tremendous amount of them. They fly us into steep, remote and unforgiving terrain, often with very little room to work. Their skill, precision and professionalism are remarkable, and the trust between our rescue crews and theirs is absolute.
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We train together. We work together. We trust them with our lives — quite literally.
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After all the missions and all the hours we've spent flying with them, we still regularly find ourselves watching what they do and thinking, WOW!!!
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To the entire Talon team: thank you. You continue to blow us away (pun intended).