Government releases tips for backcountry adventurers

VICTORIA, B.C. – With winter settling across the province, calls for search and rescue have continued to rise, so the Government urges people to plan and prepare before heading into the province’s backcountry.

Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General, Mike Farnworth, says, “Since the beginning of this pandemic we have seen an increase in the number of people enjoying the outdoors, but also a persistent rise in the number of ground search ad reuse calls in British Columbia. People are getting stuck or lost, and we’re finding they’re unprepared for the elements or haven’t familiarized themselves with their route. This can be dangerous, not only for the people who are in distress, but also for the search and rescue crews deployed to help. I also want to take this opportunity to thank all of our search and rescue volunteers in B.C. who continue to go above and beyond to protect public safety, even during a pandemic.”

Since April of this year, crews have been deployed for almost 1,600 different search and rescue missions. In 2019, ground search and rescue teams responded to 1,265 calls, and in 2018 there were 1,236.

BC AdventureSmart provides the following tips on how to remain safe when heading into the backcountry, especially during the pandemic:

This past July, the government announced it would commit to funding Ground Search and Rescue groups across the province with a $6 million contribution starting in 2022-23.

More information can be found on the AdventureSmart website.