Arrowsmith SAR volunteers working a pulley rope system to help get a stuck hiker to the top of Little Mountain in Errington. (Arrowsmith SAR)

By Ian Holmes

rescued

Stranded climber rescued from Little Mountain, family expresses gratitude to Arrowsmith SAR

May 25, 2023 | 4:46 PM

ERRINGTON — With his concerned father and brother anxiously looking on, rescuers hoisted a man stuck on Little Mountain during a late-night climb that went awry.

It happened on Tuesday, May 23 with Arrowsmith Search and Rescue (SAR) dispatched to the top of the popular lookout west of Parksville at about 9:50 p.m. in response to a man who attempted to climb from the bottom.

Arrowsmith SAR president Nick Rivers was hoisted down about 140 feet on a rope in the darkness, navigating through trees as he came to an overhang.

“That’s where the rock kind of protrudes out and then you go off that edge and are free-hanging and you can’t touch the cliffside anymore, which is when I was able to see our stuck climber,” Rivers said, noting he could hear the stranded climber while being lowered.

Still about five feet from him, a hanging Rivers extended a harness to attach to the man, who found refuge on a small cliff.

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Rivers and the stranded climber were pulled back up the steep mountain and safely brought to the top.

The rescue took a little over an hour, Rivers said, with more than 20 Arrowsmith SAR personnel on scene.

Rivers said the rescued climber was not injured, while his family members were relieved.

“The next day the father sent us a really wonderfully written email with gratitude, that was pretty phenomenal. We don’t get that a lot, but it sure perked the team spirit, it was great to see.”

Rivers said incidents like this highlight the importance of limiting higher-risk activities later in the evening.

“Any kind of solo climbing later in the day is not advisable. Going in a group and having an effective plan in case things go wrong is really important.”

SAR Top 10 trip essentials

• Firestarter (matches, lighter)
• Flashlight or headlamp
• Extra food and water
• Extra clothes
• Pocket knife
• Shelter (tarp)
• First aid kit
• Compass or GPS device
• Cell phone
• Whistle or signal device

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ian@nanaimonewsnow.com

On Twitter: @reporterholmes