Winter Hiking Tips
Words of wisdom from LBSARWith the onset of dark and dreary days most people pack away their hiking boots and dream of balmy summer days to come. Most — but not all. For those who do make the decision to brave the elements, the experts have some advice to share. "The main issues we repeatedly see, especially coming into dark and cold season are related to navigation," says Brent Calkin, Lions Bay Search and Rescue Manager. He says the issues include: • lack of knowledge of how navigation apps wo
Wicked Wasp Weather
LBSAR sends out a timely reminderHot on the heels of the weekend's triple rescue, Lions Bay Search and Rescue (LBSAR) were summoned into action again on Tuesday, according to manager Ed Langford, who called the rescue a repeat of one of the weekend events. "The callout was for a 30 year-old female who was hiking with her large dog, when she likely disturbed the same angry wasp nest as our Sunday victim in the Deeks trail area of the Howe Sound Crest Trail," Langford said. He noted that the hiker
Triple Call-out on Last Day of Summer
LBSAR breaks record with busiest season everThe last full day of summer was a busy one for Lions Bay Search and Rescue (LBSAR).The team has already surpassed its average annual call volume, making 2025 the busiest year in LBSAR history. On average, the volunteer crew responds to around 30 calls each year — but with nearly two months left in the season, they’ve already been tasked to 33 rescues.Just last night alone, LBSAR was called to three separate incidents, a reminder of how busy the team re
Yak Peak Rescue
Teams save stranded climbers in dangerous helicopter rescueA pair of climbers stranded on a cliff face near Hope were finally rescued on Wednesday after a number of attempts to pluck the pair off the cliffside on Tuesday night failed due to bad weather, wildfire smoke and darkness. The pair were scaling the granite face of Yak Peak, near the Coquihalla summit, when one fell and suffered a head injury. Both climbers remained suspended by their ropes and harnesses on the cliff face, presenting an
Long Weekend Double Header
LBSAR complete rescues by land and air By SAR Manager Ed LangfordA suspected broken ankle on Tunnel Bluffs trail kicked off the start of a busy long weekend for Lions Bay Search and Rescue (LBSAR). The page was relayed to LB shortly after noon on Saturday. Being a long weekend, we had a number of members away, but always have enough resources to manage the situation. The subject was located around three kilometres into the trail, so it was decided a wheeled stretcher would be appropriate to avoi
False Alarm Triggers Chopper Rescue
Partying campers "signal fire" turns out to be illegalLions Bay Search and Rescue (LBSAR) attended a callout Saturday evening triggered by a report from overnight campers in the Magnesia Meadows area, but calls of distress from the south face of Brunswick Mountain turned out to be all for naught.LBSAR manager Brent Calkin said two teams were scrambled by helicopter to the top of Brunswick mountain and into Magnesia meadows. The intention was to "have them do voice calls and whistle blasts across
Hiker Search Suspended
Alexander Nguyen still missing four days after disappearanceYesterday, three days after Alexander Nguyen went missing while on a hike with his family, RCMP announced that the search has been suspended by Squamish Search and Rescue (SAR). Nguyen, 20, became separated from his family after a walk on Canada Day near Shannon Falls Provincial Park. He is described as a 20 year old Asian male, five feet eight inches (173 cm) tall and 121 pounds (55 kg). He has brown eyes, wears his long black hair in
Risky Rescue
Treacherous weekend on Mount Brunswick for hikersFirst Responders were called into action this long weekend as hundreds of hikers headed for the snowy trails above Lions Bay. A late call on Friday night started on a confusing note, according to Lions Bay Search and Rescue (LBSAR) manager Ed Langford. While the initial call came in about a party of six having difficulty in the deep snow on Mount Brunswick, rescuers discovered that the group had actually split up."It turned out that a group of thr
Responders Team Up for Trail Rescue
Woman injured at Tunnel BluffsMembers of Lions Bay Search and Rescue (LBSAR) spent their Saturday afternoon successfully rescuing a young hiker near the end of the trail to Tunnel Bluffs. Warm Saturdays always attract the hiking crowds, and this week was no exception. The young woman was hiking with a group of 12 when she fell."She suffered a subsequent lower leg injury that immobilized her," LBSAR manager Brent Calkin told The Watershed. Calkin said that after receiving the call, the team broug
LBSAR Year in Review
Marking 40 years of service to the communityAs December 2024 closes, we are reminded of our roots.The fatal February 11, 1983 debris torrent on Alberta creek was the impetus to formalize the creation of Lions Bay Search and Rescue (LBSAR), when coupled with the number of hikers and hang gliders requesting assistance from a few mountaineering-type neighbours who lived in the area of Mountain and Sunset Drive. As a result, 40 years ago LBSAR was formally recognized. This is therefore a tremendou
The Watershed