*** Female Hiker found After Chilly Night on Mt. Gardner ***
		 
Date: 11th January 1998
From: Martin Colwell sarinfo@istar.ca
Subject: Search for Female Hiker on Mt. Gardner, BC

Searchers from Lions Bay SAR and North Shore Rescue responded to a report
of a 49 year-old female hiker,missing on Mount Gardner, on Bowen Island,
B.C.. By 2200 hrs on January 10th 1998 searchers crossed Howe Sound,
against a strong 'Squamish' wind, and set up operations in the Bowen
Island RCM Police Headquarters.

Searchers were deployed overnight up four trails on Mount Gardner. Above
300m elevation light snow cover, subzero temperatures and a cold northery
wind provide little inducement to linger. By approximately 0100hrs on the
January 11th searchers began to follow tracks in the snow a about the 500m
elevation. These tracks left the trail and indicated someone with a limp
of the left foot. Information gathered at base indicated the subject had
had surgery on her left foot, consistent with the tracks found. Two teams
continued to call and whistle and eventually received a response, which
later resolved to a voice call.

The subject was found sheltering in a hollow of some trees, slightly of
the trail, but sheltered from the worst of the wind. Apparently she had
become separated from her husband and had lost the trail, which was only
occasionaly flagged with small markers.

With assistance from the field team, the subject was able to hike back
to the trail and down to waiting vehicles at the trailhead. After
debriefing at the RCMP headquarters the subject and searchers departed.
Another rough crossing of Howe Sound by water taxi brought the search
teams back to the Vancouver mainland, with the mission concluded by
0300 hrs.

PEP Task# 983533

Prepared by Martin Colwell
Lions Bay Search & Rescue

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