The BC Search and Rescue Association (SARBC) says that as of last week, there have been almost 600 search and rescue incidents across the province this summer.
Sandra Riches, executive director at BC AdventureSmart, a program backed by BCSAR, says a lot of people in B.C. get outside. She says while not all numbers are in, so far, this year there were 599 reported incidents.
In 2023, over the summer months, there were 713 incidents, 649 incidents in 2022, 729 in 2021, and 769 in 2020. She says all the incidents for this summer will be reported by October by BCSAR volunteers.
Riches says the number one group requiring search and rescue are hikers, while mountain bikers and ATV or quad users came in second.
She says the Sea to Sky region is substantially a busy area, with 298 incidents reported just in 2024 alone, which is 130 incidents more than the Fraser Valley which came in second, and Vancouver Island North which came in third with 158 incidents.
“There are some search and rescue groups that are much busier than others,” she said.
Riches says the common reasons for search and rescue are lower extremity injuries.
“Twisting those ankles, slipping, tripping, falling often in relation to footwear that’s lacking in good tread, good ankle support, and being the right type of footwear to really keep them safe and moving through that terrain,” she explained.
Riches says the second main reason is getting lost or disoriented.
“Navigation is critical. Knowing how to use a map and a compass ideally would be great, not relying on your phone for navigation. There are many reasons why that phone is not your primary navigation. It’s not your primary light source. There’s other means of gear for that,” she said.
The third reason is exceeding abilities, she added.