It was a weekend full of learning for several search and rescue workers who came to Squamish to take part in the annual advanced water rescue course on Saturday and Sunday (April 16 and 17).
The course attracted 12 participants from as far away as Saskatchewan to take part and instructor Craig Gerrard said it was a successful weekend for the group.
"Overall I think the weekend went really well," he said. "Lots of exchanging of information between all of us and a lot of learning."
The group spent Saturday morning and afternoon at the Cheakamus River waterfall working on how to access injured people in fast-moving and rocky waters. Later that day, the group moved to the Mamquam River to work on nighttime rescues.
On Sunday, course participants headed into the forest at Carpenter's Sons Bridge to work on canyon access using a Tyrolean pulley device.
"We used the Tyrolean to access points that are normally inaccessible at any other way," he said. "And the great thing about the Carpenter's Sons area is that it really gives you that canyon feel. In a real-life scenario we have to lower into the creek and this area really gives us that same type of feel."
Gerrard added that aside from Saskatchewan, the course attracted participants from Squamish, Whistler, the Fraser Valley and Vancouver Island.
"Everybody really learned lots and we had a great group of guys," he said.
