*** Hiker Cellphone's for Help after Flashlight Quits ***

August 9th 1997

Unnecessary Mountain, B.C.

The Squamish R.C.M. Police received a cellphone call from a male hiker
who became stranded by darkness after a late, 5pm, afternoon start up
the strenuous Unnecessary Mountain (4900ft) trail.

At 2200 hours Lions Bay Search & Rescue despatched a team up the trail,
and found the hiker, with his dead flashlight, at the 1400ft elevation.
He was given a headlamp and escorted down the trail to the Lions Bay SAR
Base.

Upon intervieweing at Base he indicated that he had indeed started very
late in the day and turned around at 8pm, once he realised that he would
not reach the summit of the trail. He stopped and cellphoned for help when
his flashlight failed. On further questioning it was discovered that no
one knew he had left for a hike and that he had not left a note indicating
either his destination or planned return time.

After an admonition on the risks of hiking alone and the need for leaving
a trip plan with a responsible person, the deriefing was concluded at the
incident closed.

Prepared by Martin Colwell
Lions Bay Search & Rescue.

PEP Task # 981754

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