Juan de Fuca SAR slogs 4 hours through mud, saves injured hiker off trail

Hours of slogging through mud carrying a stretcher to haul an injured hiker off the Juan de Fuca Marine Trail is a standard call for local search and rescue crews. Juan de Fuca SAR did just that, emerging shortly after 2 a.m. on May 9, 2024, after being called out around 5:30 p.m. the evening before. Coordinator Victoria Clarke said the team can sometimes get help from a helicopter or the Sooke branch of Royal Canadian Marine SAR, but has to be prepared when those aren't an option due to weather, daylight or call volumes; the team knew where the hiker was thanks to modern technology but still had to find the most efficient way to reach them. In this case 17 volunteers from Juan de Fuca and Metchosin rescue teams took turns rotating through six positions carrying the stretcher over a four-hour trek through technically tough terrain, at times knee-deep in mud, using rope assist for safety. Clarke said the team covers a vast, diverse area and people may not always be prepared for how difficult the trail can be; BC AdventureSmart made a trail-specific safety video she recommends.