Members of Squamish Search and Rescue (SSAR) are responding to a higher volume of emergency calls this year, making the community-based volunteer organization the busiest such group in all of British Columbia.
It's been quite a remarkable year, said John C. Howe, president of SSAR. Typically, the busiest search and rescue organization is the North Shore SAR due to population and the mountains, with Chilliwack's SAR coming in second, due to the area's rivers, assisting fisherman and the like. Squamish SAR is usually the third busiest, but now this year we've become the busiest in terms of responding to emergency calls.
Most years, SSAR tackles an average of 50 calls, but so far in 2013 the team has been mobilized for 57 incidents and the summer season isn't over.
We had 23 calls just in July, which is twice the normal volume, said Howe. And it is not just lost hikers, but also many technical calls where there are actual injuries in challenging and difficult-to-access terrain.
Often the terrain is so treacherous SSAR members have to enlist the aid of a helicopter just to reach those in distress, or in rare cases to extricate a body. On Sunday, Aug. 4 a helicopter was used to gather information when a woman fell to her death from the Stawamus Chief (see full story above on Page A1).
There have been some touchy incidents this year, said Howe. For instance, we had to call in Blackcomb Helicopters when a hiker got into some technical terrain at Britannia Beach he had decided to scramble up a cliff and got so high he couldn't get back down or go further up the cliff and due to his location we couldn't get to him. So he spent the night on a ledge and we long-lined him out with a helicopter. Luckily it was a nice warm night. But it is too dangerous and difficult to perform night operations with that kind of terrain when you can't see what you're doing.
He said it's difficult to explain why this year has been so busy for his dedicated team.
It could very well be due to the nicer weather we've had this summer, he said. However, both May and June were wet months and we saw particularly high volumes of calls then, as well.
Currently, SSAR is staffed completely by volunteers who live in Squamish.
We have about 50 members right now, said Howe. And they come from all walks of life, from nurses and paramedics to professionals and housewives. It's a great group of enthusiastic locals who want to use their expertise and skills to help the community and give something back.
But, Howe said he fears the higher volume of calls this year may be putting a strain on his team, and SSAR's mostly donated funding.
Everyone on the team has a cellphone and is expected to respond 24/7, he said. Our concern is that when you have the number of calls we've been having, it puts added stress on the team.
He said people going into the backcountry or onto rock faces in the area should make themselves aware of the kind of terrain and conditions they'll be facing and be prepared.
Make sure you are knowledgeable of the area, trails and terrain, he said. Bring a cellphone, warm clothes and water, because accidents do happen.
In addition, if you'd like to donate to SSAR or join the team, go to www.squamishsar.org.
