Ridge Meadows SAR finds, helps group of hikers ‘soaked to the skin’ in Golden Ears Park
Posted September 16, 2019 8:53 am.
MAPLE RIDGE (NEWS 1130) – A weekend in the rain and fog ended early for some campers in Golden Ears Park who had to be plucked to safety by Ridge Meadows Search and Rescue.
Just before 6:00 p.m. on Saturday, SAR members were called to help four hikers who found themselves stranded on Panorama Ridge.
The hikers called to say they were soaked, their tent was flooded, and that they couldn’t find their way out of the clouds.
“We attempted to fly a team in but the weather and failing daylight were acting against us so we hiked two teams up to Panorama Ridge,” Ridge Meadows SAR says in a Facebook post.
“With rain coming down in sheets and at (many) times blowing sideways, concern was growing for our subjects who we are now able to number at 4….3 males and a female. As the teams neared Panorama Ridge, the weather started throwing thunder and lightning off in the distance.”
Eventually, crews reached the group of hikers who were “soaked to the skin.” They were taken to an emergency shelter nearby.
Ridge Meadows SAR members attempted to fly a team, in but the weather wasn’t cooperating.
The weather cleared enough by Sunday morning, and crews managed to get two helicopters into the area to fly the hikers to safety.
