Image: Hope Volunteer Search and Rescue

By Mike Vanden Bosch

Rescue effort

Hope SAR activated for rescue involving well-prepared hiker near Coquihalla Summit

Aug 28, 2025 | 10:00 AM

COQUIHALLA SUMMIT — Hope Volunteer Search and Rescue volunteers were activated earlier this week after a solo hiker got lost on a trail connecting three peaks near the Coquihalla Summit.

According to a social media post, Hope SAR volunteers were tasked Tuesday evening with locating a female who got lost on the Zupjok, Llama and Alpaca Trail. The hiker had contacted her sister when she got lost, who then notified the RCMP when she could not be reached again.

Hope SAR says the hiker was able to locate the trail again and headed back to the Zupjok summit where rescue personnel located her and brought her back to the trailhead. Hope SAR returned to the base by 6 a.m. Wednesday morning.

Image: All Trails / The location of the Zupjok, Llama, and Alpaca trails/peaks.

The hiker was well prepared for an overnight emergency by having a tent and being ready to wait it out until daylight arrived. However, Hope SAR says all backcountry hikers should remember to carry 10 essential items for moments like this.

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“Even in summer, a night on the mountain without these necessities can be extremely uncomfortable and/or dangerous. As we head into colder overnight temperatures it can be deadly,”

It helped that the female hiker notified her sister about her plan and where searchers should head in the event she lost her directional bearings.

“A trip plan left with a trusted person is equally important as the 10 Essentials,” Hope SAR said.

Hope SAR reiterated the importance of contacting 9-1-1 sooner than later, as cell phone batteries are almost always drained by the time calls are made and cell phone service is usually spotty, if nonexistent in backcountry domains.

“Always call 911 first. Searchers can take many hours to reach a subject and the earlier this gets started, the better the outcome. Many phones now have the ability to send a message to 911 even when there is no cell reception,” Hope SAR said. “Call early and stay put (unless you’re location is putting you in danger) because we will be coming to the coordinates taken from the call.”