North Shore Rescue documentary finale details tragic avalanche death, warns of winter dangers

NORTH VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) — A deadly avalanche that shook North Shore Rescuers is detailed in the final episode of a documentary series airing Tuesday, and it has stark warnings for winter.

As the North Shore Rescue teams prepare for what it believes will be a record-breaking year for rescues with demand for winter sports booming, it hopes the last episode of “Search and Rescue: North Shore,” will act as a warning, while giving viewers an intimate look at an emotionally challenging call for the team.

In the final episode of Search and Rescue: North Shore, the @NSRescue team faces its most challenging call of the year as an avalanche drags two snowshoer's down a mountain.

Episode 5 now available for streaming. On-air tonight at 9pm.https://t.co/ahlvtLvuMA pic.twitter.com/Aflo9cdZNU

— Knowledge Network (@kpassiton) December 8, 2020

It captures the story of the tragic avalanche death of a Surrey man on Mt. Seymour last year and fills in some unanswered questions.

Search manager Doug Pope recalls the avalanche danger forecast was low to moderate before an unusually weak layer lurking in the snowpack was triggered by two snowshoers.

“Well, it was a real challenge for us. Just the seriousness of the overall case,” he says.

The weather in February 2019 frustrated searchers and kept their efforts at bay when they wanted badly to attempt the rescue which ultimately became a body recovery two days later. “It was a really tough call for our members,” he recalls.

A second man was pushed up against a tree during the avalanche and was left dangling. He wasn’t hurt and able to call for help before being airlifted out of the area the same day.

But It took searchers and dog teams two days to find 39-year-old Remi Michalowski’s buried body after weather and avalanche conditions forced the team into submission — in part because the pair of men were not wearing avalanche transceivers.

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This year, with an expected onslaught of snowshoers, hikers and skiers in the backcountry, Pope is flagging the grim reality that every rescue potentially exposes search volunteers to COVID-19.

“We have to get up close and personal with a lot of subjects that we rescue and that does add a layer of risks for our members,” he says.

Because the situation can change so quickly in the winter, Pope is pleading with people to make trip plans, stay within their skill range, and avoid taking risks to keep pressure off healthcare workers.

He says the mountains are incredibly icy right now and while avalanches are a concern in winter months, “probably the most prevalent call we get is the slip-and-fall in snowy, icy terrain … and they can be quite serious.”

“Just in the last few years, we had a gentleman with a broken femur. We had a gentleman that broke his neck off the north side of Tim Jones Peak, which is the middle hump on Seymour,” he warns.

He suggests using the Adventure Smart Trip planning app BC and is hoping everyone will learn from the frightening scenarios that are captured in the now fully-aired documentary series.

Each episode offers a behind the scenes look at some of 2018 and 2019’s most harrowing rescues, including one heartbreaking scene that left a family dog presumed deceased at the bottom of a very large cliff.

Fan feedback has been glowing but Pope says there are no plans in the works for the team to film a second season.

“Peg Leg Films, that did the filming with us, have been a really good group to work with … and I think we get the opportunity for the public to see what members are seeing firsthand and the type of things that can go wrong,” says Pope.

North Shore Rescue is a full volunteer organization and doesn’t charge for its services. Instead, the team has long taken an educational and compassionate approach to its work.

The latest chapter in the story airs at 9 p.m., Tuesday night, on the Knowledge Network. Each episode features historical footage of the team in its early days, offering a glimpse into the local mountains before tools like GPS, radios and helicopters became commonplace.