Planning, preparation and staying within your level of ability are key to a safe and enjoyable hike
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Silly foreigners, you probably thought, once again underestimating the challenges of venturing mere minutes into B.C.’s rugged backcountry.
Turns out, the province’s 3,400 search volunteers are called out about 1,750 times a year to rescue an injured, lost or overdue backcountry user, and less than one per cent of those calls come from people who don’t live here.
Riches was a park ranger for many years before pivoting into outdoor education at Capilano University and now at AdventureSmart, the resource wing of BCSARA, which oversees 78 search and rescue organizations across B.C.
Early in her career, Riches recalls there were far fewer people on the trails in popular spots like Mount Seymour, to the point she got to know most of them and developed friendships and learned the ropes from mentors.
Things have changed, and the level of familiarity of many backcountry users with the areas they venture into is often worryingly low. That’s where AdventureSmart B.C. comes in.
“If you know what you’re doing, the access (to the wilderness) is wonderful,” says Riches. “But it’s also there for those who don’t know what they’re doing.”
The pandemic certainly didn’t help with that. As public health officials encouraged people to get outside during the peak of COVID-19, search and rescue calls surged 30 per cent in B.C. Needless to say, in the midst of global travel restrictions, those weren’t international visitors getting bailed out.
It outlines how to prepare for a trip, including the crucial step of listing your emergency contacts and filling out an itinerary so people know where you are and when you’re due back.
All of the resources, including frequent webinars and in-person training sessions with SAR volunteers, are free to use.
One key piece of advice Riches stresses beyond all others: Never head into the wilderness by yourself. “Do it with at least one other person,” says Riches. “I can’t stress enough that we shouldn’t be going alone.”
It’s also vital to ensure everyone in your group can handle the rigours of the journey.
“Your life is in my hands, and vice versa,” she notes. Riches says she’s gone on some trips with other women who brought along a friend who simply wasn’t up to the challenge, and that it can put the whole group at risk.
“We can’t just go out and think that everything is going to be perfect.”
BCSARA employees and volunteers also meet regularly with international search and rescue organizations to develop educational programs, and to share ideas that have worked to improve public safety in the wild.
“There are reliable resources out there. Use them,” says Riches. “Your ‘destination’ is home.”