Soaked teens found after night lost - Vancouver Province - Nov 7, 2006
Searchers hampered by heavy rain that turned trails to mush
Ethan Baron, The Province
Published: Tuesday, November 07, 2006

Two North Vancouver teens survived a perilous mountain mishap, and were discovered cold and wet yesterday after a massive overnight search.

Adam Lofting, 16, and Alec Beaton, 17, were dropped off by a parent around 11 a.m. Sunday at the entrance to the steep and rugged trail up Mt. Unnecessary behind Lions Bay.

The two, with dogs Pasha and Mocha, were planning to hike to the Lions, search-and-rescue officials said.

As darkness fell, the boys made cellphone calls to one of their fathers, telling him they'd become lost.

They were told to stay put, said Lions Bay Search and Rescue manager Martin Colwell.

Rescuers were called in at 6 p.m., and teams combed the steep mountainsides through the night, at times in torrential rain.

"These trails are incredibly steep," said Brent Calkin, one of dozens of search-and-rescue volunteers. "You're basically hand over hand, going up waterfalls."

Rainfall throughout yesterday turned the Mt. Unnecessary trail into a narrow fast-flowing creek, while searchers explored trails, gullies and bush off that trail and the Howe Sound crest trail along the ridge above.

The families of the two youths spent the day at the Lions Bay search headquarters, worrying and hoping for good news.

Finally, just before 1:30 p.m., a search crew came across the boys, on the Howe Sound trail, past the Lions about a kilometre to the north at 1,300 metres elevation.

"I'm just so, so thankful that they found them, and that they're safe," said Lofting's mother Chris.

"I can hardly wait to hug them."

The two were suffering from mild hypothermia, said North Shore rescue manager Allan McMordie.

They had been carrying light emergency shelter sheets, matches and headlamps, but were wearing mostly cotton clothing, which becomes very cold when wet.

While setting off in the hours between two storms was not advisable, the boys had done well to make sure others knew of their plans, McMordie said.

"Their parents knew where they were," McMordie said.

"We get so many people who nobody knows that they're out there."

ebaron@png.canwest.com

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