Always there: Squamish SAR
Fresh Tracks small takes that make Squamish unique
Squamish Search and Rescue manager B.J. Chute at their Squamish base. PHOTO BY DAVID BUZZARD 8 | Discover Squamish Winter 2022
Squamish Search and Rescue saw a spike in emergency calls during the pandemic – and they are warning anyone who heads into the wilderness to be prepared for the worst. “It’s very important that people who are going to venture out into the backcountry — even the front country — of the Sea to Sky that they take an avalanche awareness course, that they invest some time into practising with their avalanche gear, their beacon, probe and shovel,” said B.J. Chute, director of operations for Squamish Search and Rescue (SAR). He strongly urges people to take 15 or 30 minutes to prepare before venturing out, checking weather and avalanche conditions and leaving behind a detailed trip plan that could massively speed up a rescue operation, if required. The Squamish SAR website (squamishsar.org) has detailed information on safety planning. Squamish Search and Rescue is an all-volunteer force of 70 team members, all of whom are equipped with advanced training. But circumstances like weather conditions and nightfall can prevent them from getting to lost or injured people, so they are telling everyone to be prepared to “self-rescue.” “Our winters typically in this area can be quite wet and dark and cold and anything people can do to combat the elements is going to be in their best interests in a survival situation,” he said. “If we are not able to fly into an area, or if somebody is in avalanche terrain, they really do need to be prepared — and prepared to the point of self-rescue, as any professional SAR team may have their response delayed because of circumstances outside of our control.” The Squamish team works in close conjunction with other regional SARs, especially those on the North Shore and in Lions Bay, Whistler and Pemberton. While every SAR team is equipped for all variety of rescue operations, Squamish is noted for an especially talented and innovative swift water response team. Whistler and Pemberton have specific expertise in avalanche response. So when either team needs backup, especially in areas where another team has recognized proficiency, they call on their neighbours. “We train to the same standards and we train together sometimes, which is an incredible system called mutual aid,” said Chute. The 10-year SAR volunteer, who is also a 28-year veteran paramedic with B.C. Ambulance Service, Chute estimates his rescue team will respond to 150 calls this year. Squamish SAR recently adopted an innovative and enhanced mapping software. “It allows us to live-track our SAR team members and we have the ability to link our calling party, our injured or lost subject, into our mapping system, where we can track their cell phones. It’s very user-friendly and easy for us now, if the person is in cell service, to find their GPS location.” Chute emphasizes that search and rescue is always free in the province. Someone who finds themselves in a situation should not hesitate to call 911, he said. “The earlier people can activate the 911 system, the earlier we can launch a response,” said Chute.
