A hiker died after slipping and falling on Mount Seymour in North Vancouver Saturday, North Shore Rescue confirmed.
The 28-year-old woman was camping with a friend near Pump Peak when around 7:45 a.m. she fell on steep snow, slid down the icy slope and disappeared over the edge, search manager Stan Sovdat told CTV News.
“The friend thought she could hear calling and some noises, but the noises and calls quickly stopped and there was no further contact, and she called 911,” he said.
A large search and rescue effort ensued. One team flew to the area in a helicopter but couldn’t land due to heavy clouds around the peaks of the mountain. Additional volunteers travelled to the site on skidoos before descending the slope using crampons and ice axes.
Meanwhile, more crews shuttled up the mountain. Sovdat says a total 25 volunteers responded to the tragedy.
“It was a difficult call for everyone on the team,” he said.
The group, which included emergency physicians, found the hiker about 180 metres below. They did everything they could to save her life, but she passed away.
The North Vancouver RCMP confirmed the death Saturday afternoon and offered condolences to the woman’s family and friends.
North Shore Rescue warned nature-goers about icy conditions in the backcountry last week after multiple people were seriously injured in the mountains.
Read more: North Shore Rescue urges caution after multiple weekend callouts
“When the slopes are icy and hard, slipping and falling on them your acceleration is a little like jumping out of an aircraft,” Sovdat said.
He urged hikers to understand what they’re getting into and have all the right equipment before heading into the wilderness. This time of year, that means crampons or micro-spikes and ice axes.
“It’s not just a playground; it requires some thinking and preparation,” he said.
