GPS Locator Leads to Rapid Recovery Of Injured Hiker
Prince George, B.C. – There’s a lesson to be learned in this story about being prepared when on a hiking trip.
Yesterday, Prince George RCMP received a report of a GPS locator distress activation near Viking Peak in Sugarbowl-Grizzly Den Provincial Park about 90 kms east of Prince George.
An officer went to the parking lot at the trail head and located the vehicle owned be the person who also owns the GPS transmitter.
The owner couldn’t e found in the immediate area, so Prince George Search and Rescue was called in to help.
A helicopter chartered by Emergency Management BC, located the owner of the transmitter and three others near Raven Lake around 4:30 in the afternoon.
The GPS owner, a 72 year old woman from Prince George, had been injured and was not able to hike out of the area. She was airlifted to the University Hospital of Northern BC for treatment.
The three other hikers were in good condition and were able to hike out on their own.
Without that GPS locator, the hikers would have spent the night in the cold, and the injured women would have had to wait to have her injury treated.
Comments
50 bux can make a huge difference. Wish her a speedy recovery
Thank you search and rescue!
Good thing it wasn’t a snowmobiler, everyone would be chomping at the bit to comment on stupidity and where the bill should be sent.
I agree with yuou interceptor,
she should have got billed had she decided to take off cross country unprepared or went into an area she was told was dangerous. ie slides. (or sledding up slopes that have avalanche warnings in the case of snowmobilers.)
but looks like accident on a hiking trail….and she was more prepeared than probably 99% of us who go hiking, myself included.
Funny we never say – send the bill – to a car owner that drives off the road where there’s no fire/rescue service, and Ft George rescue and BC Ambulance has to go fetch them, especially when it’s pretty clear the reason they’re in the ditch is either driving too fast, texting, or both. Yet someone enjoys the outdoors that is one of the great attractions to this town, has a problem, and we want them given a bill.
ski50, if people do stupid things they should pay for it, including vehicle drivers.
but they all snivel away, find some organization who will speak out and find excuses for them, and everyone else pays for their stupidity.
I know it will never happen and it is a dream but I think a good dream.
I am I perfect, nope, should I pay if I am in teh wrong … you bet, I do and have, and hopefully I am over that phase of my life now.
The search and rescue in this event was exceptional – all unpaid but highly trained. The “other” hikers helped with the rescue under the instructions of the rescuers. What I think is that we are so fortunate to live in a place that when an accident happens and help is needed – we have it. I can’t say enough for Search and Rescue and for the helicopter pilot who also helped the rescuers get the injured down the mountain to a spot where a heli could land. I don’t think that chore was in his job description.
Wow! I’ve hiked the Sugar Bowl trail and the 72 year old must be in great shape!
Glad everything worked out!
The govnment of the day encourages outdoor activities and tourism. I am sure the taxes paid in the costs of these pursuits is a hell of a lot more than any emergency related costs.
bcracer wrote: “if people do stupid things they should pay for it”
What you may think is “stupid” might be my “normal”. Who gets to play judge and jury and make that call?
If you read many of the comments here (and especially on the CBC News website) anything involving leaving the safety of your couch is deemed as reckless behaviour.
I suspect it’s borne from jealousy that they never had the guts or the ambition to leave their own little safety bubble.
Actually seamut – the cost of a rescue like this is far less than open heart surgery, a common operation for those who love their couch and potato chips.
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