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Unprepared day trippers trigger rise in Kananaskis Country rescues

More people are heading to the mountains as an enjoyable pastime, with travel restrictions keeping them close to home in light of the COVID-19 pandemic, yet rescue crews say too many are unprepared.
SA FSAR Millarville Training 8423
Members of Foothills Search and Rescue (FSAR), supported by the equine search team, conduct a training exercise last year. Members have been kept busy this year with a rise in rescues in the Kananaskis. (BRENT CALVER/Western Wheel)

Rescue crews are experiencing a hectic year as the popularity of wilderness hikes in the Kananaskis grows drastically.

More people are heading to the mountains as an enjoyable pastime with travel restrictions keeping them close to home in light of the COVID-19 pandemic, yet rescue crews say too many are unprepared.

Conservation officers, public safety specialists and Foothills Search and Rescue volunteers are responding to a growing number of calls of lost and injured day trippers.

Alberta Environment and Parks received 104 safety calls and reported four deaths in the Elbow-Sheep District of the Kananaskis from April 1 to Oct. 16 compared to 59 calls and one death during the same period in 2019, according to spokesperson Jennifer Dagsvik.

The Elbow-Sheep District consists of regions west of Turner Valley, Bragg Creek and Longview.

Dagsvik wrote in an email that the majority of calls relate to injured and lost people, as well as friends and family members of those overdue on their return home.

“Many calls are a result of people going off trail and not realizing it until they are off course,” she wrote. “That’s why we remind people of a few ground rules when they are out enjoying nature such as stop every once in a while to make sure they are on the right path and remember important landmarks.”

Alberta Environment and Parks didn't hire extra staff to meet the increased demand, said Dagsvik. This has resulted in a busy season for Foothills Search and Rescue (FSAR).

Team leader Justin Howse said the volunteer-based organization, which currently consists of 30 operational volunteers with about half being Foothills residents, received seven formal callouts with multiple standby calls from the end of May to Oct. 16 compared to four formal callouts the previous year and one standby call.

“The calls for standby were into areas that we do not normally respond, or to a call that we may not normally respond to, sometimes due to traditional responder agencies being overwhelmingly busy during that time,” he said. “Luckily everything was often sorted out in the end with callouts, however many rescue groups were stretched quite thin by the end of this summer - especially in and around Kananaskis Country.”

FSAR’s coverage area is east of Nanton and west into the Sheep River and Bluerock Wildland Provincial Park area and the Bragg Creek area.

The majority of calls are due to a lack of preparation with no trip plan, inadequate food and supplies, exhaustion and starting too late in the day, said Howse.

“If they’re new to this they can easily get off trail or sidetracked and burned out and night falls and they’re unable to continue,” he said. “These are problems we deal with continuously. This year more so.”

Adding to the increase in calls is the extra time needed for volunteers to don masks, gloves and other equipment to protect themselves from contracting COVID-19, said Howse.

“It’s going to take longer to respond and get someone out than it traditionally would. Whether it’s us, conservation officers or professionally paid teams with K-Country and Parks Canada, we all have to be extra careful. Responding to a big rescue right now high in the mountains is harder and takes much longer.”

The volunteers, many of whom are renowned professionals and experts in this field, turned their focus to prevention with FSAR’s new Preventative SAR patrol, which involved three patrols that offered education, advice and assistance where needed, said Howse.

During FSAR’s first patrol to Elbow Falls in late July, volunteers wandered around the trails to educate the public and ensure they were safe.

“We started later in the day purposefully to aid anyone returning from their hikes in possible distress and, unfortunately, noticed people starting their hikes instead,” he said. “Many were poorly setup for the hike ahead. We had to educate people about staying away from the cliff overlooking the waterfall, as there were serious safety concerns for us, and noticed social gatherings with no COVID-19 protocol in place.”

Howse said the team saw more concerning behaviour on the Nihahi Ridge Trail during the September long weekend where the team counted more than 50 hikers late in the afternoon.

“We noticed more late starts that day, many people being poorly prepared and often very little COVID-19 protocol being followed, despite hundreds of people in that parking region that day,” he said. “A late start is doable for experienced people, but if you are wearing a school pack and running shoes we are going to be concerned about this decision.”

Volunteers also noticed that many people didn’t know the trail directions, were not properly equipped, some had minor injuries like sprains and others were dehydrated.

Howse recommends those new to hiking begin with smaller trips close to home and slowly progress to bigger ones.

Those venturing out should bring the essentials for hiking in the mountains: navigation (map, compass and GPS), safety device like Spot or inReach, head lamp, sun protection, first aid kit, fire starter, shelter, food, water and clothing for all weather, said Howse.

He added that there are numerous resources in the region for wilderness and mountain safety, from books to training opportunities through the University of Calgary.

“The area is full of world class professionals who are trained in this sort of thing,” he said.

Before you go:

  • Research the area; talk to others who’ve been there before
  • Pack a map or GPS device
  • Give hike details to friends/family
  • Don’t plan a trip that’s beyond your skill level
  • Pack clothing for all weather conditions
  • Pack adequate food and water
  • Bring a first aid kit with fire starter and a light source
  • Check the weather forecast

Tammy Rollie, OkotoksToday.ca

For updated information, follow our COVID-19 special section for the latest local and national news on the coronavirus pandemic, as well as resources, FAQs and more.

To see Alberta Health Services latest statistics concerning COVID-19 cases in the Okotoks area, including Black Diamond and Foothills County, go to https://www.alberta.ca/maps/covid-19-status-map.htm

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