Hikers wearing shorts and running shoes rescued from North Shore alpine trail

Two underdressed hikers found out the hard way that there’s still snow on the peaks of the North Shore mountains.

The Howe Sound Crest Trail is a 30-kilometre hike from the base of Cypress Mountain to Porteau Cove. Two hikers found out the hard way there is still plenty of snow in the alpine when they attempted to do the trail in one day in shorts and running shoes, and needed to be rescued Wednesday night.

“Obviously being in runners and shorts, and with micro spikes, it just wasn’t enough for the conditions that are up there, which is still full winter terrain,” said Lions Bay Search and Rescue manager Maria Masiar.

The young men called 911 Wednesday afternoon, and after poor weather made a helicopter airlift impossible, a ground crew set off to make their way to the stranded hikers at 7 p.m. The crew found the hikers shivering under a single space blanket, and getting them out was a challenging, all-night affair.

“So this was a really heroic, difficult, full-on mountain rescue, rope rescue,” said Masiar.

Thursday morning the rescue crew and the hikers made it back to Lions Bay.

“They were elated,” said Masiar. “They were super happy that they managed to get through. Obviously, their families were elated to have their sons back. They both got very lucky. And I think they’re probably rethinking some of their trip plotting in the future.”

The unseasonably warm start to May has some backcountry enthusiasts assuming the snow is gone.

“It was the fourth call out that we’ve had this week in terms of people attempting big trails like the Mount Brunswick Trail, The Lions in running shoes, which are just inadequate for that terrain,” said Masiar.

“There’s still variable conditions up high, and hikers and trail runners will run into snow, sinkholes, running creeks, slippery terrain, challenging terrain, variable weather,” said Sandra Riches with BC Adventure Smart.

Because there are so many rescues on the Howe Sound Crest Trail, Adventure Smart has made a video showing hikers how to best prepare for the challenging trek.

Their advice? Wait until July to consider attempting the trail. And if conditions get difficult, turn back.

“You know that the trail will always be there,” said Masiar. “Come back another day.”