Volunteers from Wells Gray Search and Rescue and Barriere Search and Rescue came to the aid of an injured hiker Monday evening, Dec. 1.
The injured hiker was on the Clearwater River Trail between Triple Decker Falls and the former Clearwater landfill.
Barriere search manager Marc Tremblay said the hiker was walking on the trail when he slipped and fell down an embankment and into a river below.
Fortunately, the hiker was well-equipped to care for himself until search and rescue crews could get to him.
“He was able to get himself back out (of the river) and up the embankment and got a fire going so he could warm up,” Tremblay said. “He was in good spirits when our crew located him.”
Tremblay said the hiker suffered some injuries but was able to get himself through a difficult night.
The rescue teams bundled up the hiker and brought him to safety. He was taken by ambulance to hospital.
The search lasted about three hours, and then prepping and packing out the hiker took about six hours. All in all, it was a successful rescue conducted by two dedicated teams.
Wells Gray Search and Rescue’s mission is to provide timely, safe, well-trained search and rescue responses to emergency incidents in the North Thomspon and beyond, at the request of tasking agencies such as the RCMP. The group lends its skills to community events by request and also promotes education and awareness of safe outdoor practices.
Similarly, Barriere Search and Rescue is a team of volunteer, highly skilled and trained members who donate plenty of hours every year in order to come to the aid of people in need.