Coquitlam SAR locates 19 hikers Sunday night who lacked essentials for a day hike at provincial park

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Coquitlam SAR was activated Sunday night, Oct. 11.

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It says it located part of the group on the Woodland Walk, while Coquitlam SAR located the remainder of the hiking group on a mountain bike trail east of the other group.

It says all subjects and team members were returned safely just after midnight.

“This task, again is a good reminder of the Three T’s promoted by AdventureSmart (https://www.adventuresmart.ca/the-three-ts/). The 3rd T – Taking the essentials (i.e. the 10 Essentials) would have greatly assisted the subjects who lacked lights for travelling in low light conditions,” Coquitlam SAR said.

had their Thanksgiving celebrations abruptly cut short Sunday evening after being called out to rescue a large group of stranded hikers in Pinecone Burke Provincial Park.

Volunteers were called away from their holiday dinners at around 9:15 p.m. on Oct. 11 after 19 hikers became lost in the park after dark.

By the time rescuers arrived, the excursion had split into two separate groups. Coquitlam SAR deployed both ground teams and specialized e-bike units to search the terrain.

Coquitlam RCMP located the first portion of the hiking group on the Woodland Walk trail, while SAR volunteers tracked down the remaining hikers on a mountain bike trail just to the east.

According to SAR officials, the subjects were ill-equipped for a day hike and lacked essential gear—most notably flashlights or headlamps for navigating in low-light conditions. Despite being caught off guard by the darkness, all 19 hikers were found unharmed and were safely escorted back out of the park shortly after midnight.

Following the midnight rescue, Coquitlam SAR issued a reminder to the public about the core principles of Outdoor Safety promoted by AdventureSmart, specifically emphasizing the “Three Ts”:

1. Trip Planning (leave a plan with someone you trust)
2. Training (know your limits and the terrain)
3. Taking the Essentials (carrying gear like navigation tools, extra clothing, and lights)

Search and rescue organizers noted that carrying the “10 Essentials”—particularly adequate light sources for nighttime travel—would have significantly aided the hikers during their ordeal.