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Two hikers rescued near Lions Bay

Two hikers were rescued Sunday night after getting lost and stuck about a quarter kilometre off of the Unnecessary Mountain trail, just east of Lions Bay.
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Two hikers were rescued Sunday night after getting lost and stuck about a quarter kilometre off of the Unnecessary Mountain trail, just east of Lions Bay.

The two women were hiking alongside their partners when half way down the trail the women decided to proceed at a slower pace while their partners headed onwards and agreed to meet them at the bottom.

After waiting for what felt like “too long” at the bottom of the trail, the two men knocked on a nearby resident’s door and asked to call 911.

Lions Bay Search and Rescue received a call around 5:30 p.m. and subsequently started the rescue search at that time.

Lions Bay SAR says the women most likely missed the trail due to declining daylight and found themselves near a cliff’s edge.

The pair did not seem to be prepared for the hike, said search manager Martin Colwell, who added that both women had cellphones, although only one of them was able to get cell reception.

“Just lucky that the cellphone system worked on the other phone,” said Colwell.

Rescue team members were sent up to the top of the trailhead and met the two men where they managed to talk to the women by cellphone. The rescue team made its way to around the half-way point of the hike and called the women to identify their location but could not get a specific spot.

Rescue teams had to bushwhack through darkness and rugged terrain where they learned the women were lower down then they previously thought.

The two were found unharmed but it still took around an hour of moving through uneven, tricky terrain to get back to the main trail. They were supplied with helmets and extra clothing for their way back down to the bottom just after 10 p.m.

Colwell says hikers should be vigilant about diminishing daylight and endeavour to travel with spare clothing, a headlight, a map and make sure to stay together as a group when hiking.

Editor's Note: This article has been amended since first posting. It stated previously that the rescue occured on Hollyburn Mountain. This information has been corrected.