3 hikers cold, wet and lucky
Three hikers were a little wet and cold but otherwise healthy and happy to be home after getting lost on Eagle Mountain on Saturday.
The trio left their Vancouver neighbourhood early and did not inform friends or family members of their plans to venture into the wilderness area north of Coquitlam.
Dwight Yochim, search manager with Coquitlam Search and Rescue, said they were able to get a cellphone call out to a friend, who then notified rescue crews.
“They were lucky,” he said. “Had they not found a cell signal, we still wouldn’t know where they are.”
The RCMP helicopter was able to locate the missing hikers, who were airlifted out of the area from a clearing about 300 m from where they were found.
Yochim said when the sun is shining, people often forget that there is still snow at lower elevations. The three hikers that were found on the weekend were soaking wet, cold and not prepared to spend a night outside.
gmckenna@tricitynews.com
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