*** Hiker Rescued after Two Days Without Water ***

From:	 Richard Laing [Richard_Laing@bc.sympatico.ca]
Sent:	 Monday, August 31, 1998 3:48 PM
To:	 Martin Colwell sarinfo@istar.ca
Subject: Pitt Lake Rescue

At 4:15pm Saturday afternoon Ridge Meadows SAR received a call from the
RCM Police to respond to Pitt Lake where a 42 yr. old male trapped on a
cliff. Access would be by boat. When we arrived on scene, it was
determined that the man was about three quarters of the way up the lake
on its west side.

The subject had been dropped of on Wednesday by boat and had left
information with his family as to his destination and return date. His
father and son had gone back up the lake on Saturday to look for him when
he contacted them by cellphone and told them that he was stuck on a ledge,
was exhausted and was unable to move up or down.

It was reported that the subject had been hiking for three days and had
been without water for the last two days. Ridge Meadows SAR called in
Coquitlam SAR to assist with their boat and extra personnel. A helicopter
was also called in as the return trip by boat was 45-60 minutes and the
limited remaining daylight was becoming a concern. Several boat trips were
made and the helicopter was able to fly a team in to the staging area.

Once on scene the subject still had to be located. A team was sent up the
mountainside to a point above the subject's location, which was located
by voice contact. A raising system was set up to bring the subject up to
a safe ledge, where he was then walked down to the lakeside. A doctor with
Coquitlam SAR assessed the subject and determined that he was mostly
suffering from dehydration. the subject was then transported by boat to
Grant Narrows boat launch where a waiting ambulance transported him to
Maple Ridge Hospital for observation.

The task was completed at 00:30hrs. 19 members from Ridge Meadows SAR
and 7 members from Coquitlam SAR were involved.

Rick Laing.
Ridge Meadows Search & Rescue.