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Rescuers busier than ever

Squamish Search and Rescue responded to 86 calls in 2016
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It was the busiest year Squamish Search and Rescue members ever had. 

In 2016, SAR members responded to more calls than ever in the team’s history, according to BJ Chute, president of SAR. 

“Our team has just been getting busier and busier,” said Chute.

The team had 100 call outs last year, 86 of which were responses, meaning the rescuers were deployed, and 14 were non-events. 

“A lot for a volunteer organization,” Chute said of the number of responses when he presented the year’s statistics to the public and corporate services standing committee on March 28. 

Most rescues in Squamish involve someone who is injured or stranded and require some sort of technical rescue, according to Chute. 

In 2016 SAR went out on 55 ground rescues, 11 water-related calls, seven mountain, seven winter responses, three rope and three calls aiding another agency. 

Most rescues come on weekends and in and around the Stawamus Chief. 

The increase in calls is due mostly to the increase in public recreation in general in the Sea to Sky Corridor, according to Tennessee Trent, vice-president of SAR. 

“More people going more places,” he said. “Whether it is gnarly mountain bike trails, or the mountains or the back of the gondola, speed-winging or whatever else. All of those things are reflected.” 

So far in 2017, search and rescue members have had 10 calls, Chute said, adding that is about average for the winter season. 

“We typically do one or two calls a month in the wintertime,” he said. 

Thirteen new members are currently being trained and aim to be out in the field in May, the start of the busy season for the team. 

“It is pretty exciting for us to have these new people,” Chute said. 

The organization is currently in the process of getting its own medical director. “One of our primary focus or responsibilities has historically been medical responses and by having an… in house doctor it opens up what our members are allowed to do,” he said. “It is a great opportunity to increase our medical calls.” 

Search and rescue got started in Squamish in 1975 with an eight-member team; Squamish Search and Rescue now totals 76. For more on the organization go to squamishsar.org.

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