A hiker who went off-trail in the Suicide Gully area west of Mt. Seymour was safely rescued yesterday evening after his return from Brockton Point.
In a social media post, North Shore Rescue (NSR) explained that the individual had hiked to Brockton Point earlier in the day but had somehow left the marked trail on his way back, descending into steep, technical terrain that does not lead back to the parking lot. At one point, the hiker discovered NSR’s Suicide Gully emergency cache but chose to continue further down.
The hiker was able to regain cell reception just after dark at around 400 metres elevation and called 911. NSR triangulated his location from the signal and deployed a ground team from the Lower Seymour Conservation Reserve. The team provided food, water, and clothing, and carefully escorted the hiker back to safety.
“The individual was located in very steep technical terrain, very close to cliff areas,” the NSR noted. “Frequent readers of these debriefs know that the last thing you should do on the North Shore is go ‘down’ when lost. You need to stop and stay put if safe to do so.”
The post noted that the hiker had not informed anyone of his plans and was minimally equipped for the hike. NSR emphasized that leaving a Trip Plan and carrying the “10 Essentials” is crucial, even for shorter hikes, as North Shore terrain can be unpredictable.
