It’s been a busy summer for North America’s search and rescue specialists, with dozens of technical rescues taking place each week. One such rescue was just reported by North Shore Rescue, located on Canada’s west coast.

North Shore Rescue released some information about a call they responded to on Yak Peak this week, a popular granite mountain east of Vancouver with some classic rock routes, including a new 14-pitch 5.10, which you can read about here. Below is what they said on social media, along with the original post. Be careful this summer, and always carry a communication device in case you need a rescue.

NSR was called at 22:40 last night for a mutual aid request from Hope SAR for two climbers stuck on Yak Peak. One of the climbers had fallen and sustained a head injury. As well ,weather in the area was rapidly deteriorating making climbing conditions dangerous. The two climbers were hanging in their harnesses mid-face.
A hoist crew flew up to the area with Talon helicopters utilizing night vision goggles. The flight was complicated by clouds and wildfire smoke in the area.
Multiple attempts were made to get overtop of the climbers but unfortunately conditions were too dangerous and the helicopter was forced to land at Hope Airport. After waiting until weather improved the flight crew flew up into the area but were again turned around by clouds and rain. At this time the crew returned to Vancouver around 04:00.
In the meantime, Hope SAR began to mobilize a ground response made up of rope rescue and mountain rescue certified SAR members. Chilliwack SAR sent members up Yak and a NSR rope rescue team leader and mountain rescue member drove up from North Vancouver.
At 05:30 Hope SAR contacted NSR and let us know weather was improving. A new flight crew was assembled as the pilot, hoist operator, and rescue techs were all timed out from the night before.
The fresh flight crew flew up into the area and luckily were able to get overhead. Two techs were inserted to the belay station and utilized the Petzl Lezard to attach to the bolted belay station.
First the injured climber was hoisted out, then his partner, and were then transferred to EHS at the Zopkios Parking area. Ground crews then returned to the parking area as well, having made it to the top of Zak at the same time the heli arrived on scene.
This was a complex task involving night flying, technical pick offs, mountain rescue, and complex hoists.
It should be noted that one of the techs inserted is a Lions Bay SAR member who is part of our integrated hoist team.
Thank you to Hope SAR for coordinating the task, to Chilliwack SAR for coordinating the ground response, to Talon Helicopters, Lions Bay SAR, EHS and ECC.
The flight crew is currently returning to Vancouver.
We wish the climber a speedy recovery.
– JB

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