Comox Valley, Campbell River and Port Alberni SAR crews combined to help get an injured hiker to hospital. The Nanaimo area man slipped on rocks and tumbled about 60 metres near the summit of Mt. Arrowsmith on Saturday, June 6 (Comox Valley Ground Search and Rescue)

By Ian Holmes

Hiking accident

‘It was a substantial distance:’ Nanaimo area man seriously injured in fall on Mt. Arrowsmith

Jun 7, 2020 | 5:02 PM

NANAIMO — An estimated 60 metre fall on slippery rocks and hardened snow near Mt. Arrowsmith’s summit sent a hiker to hospital with significant head injuries.

Alberni Valley Rescue Squad search manager Dave Poulsen said it took several hours to get the man in his 60’s from the Nanaimo area off the mountain and to hospital on Saturday, June 6.

“That evacuation was rendered much more difficult given the weather conditions that were present and the difficulty accessing the patient at the top of the mountain,” Poulsen said.

A surprising blast of wet snow added to poor visibility, which prevented a Port Alberni-based helicopter with a medical team aboard from leaving the mountaintop.

Poulsen said a specialized private chopper equipped with a winch staffed by regional SAR crews luckily found a break in the clouds to reach the patient and hoist him away.

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A BC Air Ambulance team waiting in Parksville then flew the wounded man to hospital.

Three other hikers in the group were escorted down the mountain on foot and medically cleared to leave.

They scaled the mountain via the popular Judge’s Route.

Poulsen said while the hikers were prepared for the outing, the weather likely turned out much worse than they expected or hoped.

“A good indication would be if you get into trouble or if you’re at a point where you’re not comfortable, maybe it’s a hike for another day.”

ian@nanaimonewsnow.com

On Twitter: @reporterholmes