*** New Jersey Hikers 'survive' B.C.'s Wilderness ***

From: Nathan Dubeck
Squamish Search & Rescue, B.C.

17th February 1997

Squamish Search & Rescue were notified by the RCMP of a cellphone call
from a group of American hikers lost near the Squamish Chief, the world
famous climbing ground, North of Vancouver, B.C..

Communications with the lost New Jersey hikers did not result in a clear
description of their location and so search teams were despatched
to check the hiking trail that loops around the south side of the
2200m (7218ft) Squamish Chief. When the subjects could not be found
they were asked if they could see the highway below. Once it was
determined that they could they were asked to report whether the rescue
vehicle with its headlights on was to their North or South. By this means
their location was found to be South of the Squamish Chief, towards the
direction of the top of Shannon Falls, a powerful waterall and popular
tourist attraction.

A night search by the ground search teams eventually found the lost group
of hikers. By the early hours of the morning they were escorted safely
back to the highway.

The New Jersey folks recounted how, in an effort to stay warm they burnt
pages from some literature they were carrying and then, one-by-one, pages
from a checkbook. When all the checks had been burnt they started burning
banknotes - it was not clear whether this was Canadian or American money,
but it apparently did not burn as well as the checkbook.

Once all the currency had been burnt the two females removed their bra's
and these were also burnt. It was not reported what the hikers were
planning to burn next if the search team had not found them.

Submitted by: Nathan Dubeck
Squamish Search & Rescue, B.C.

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