A rope rescue in April 2018 (Image Credit: CFJC Today)

By Jill Sperling

Rope Rescue

KFR urges caution on icy trails in city parks

Mar 1, 2021 | 4:37 PM

KAMLOOPS — With the weather warming up, more people are likely to hit the trails at parks around the city. Kamloops Fire Rescue is urging people to be cautious after a hiker required rescuing at Peterson Creek on Sunday (Feb. 28). The 37-year-old hiker fell off the trail while hiking alone and was clinging to brush above a large drop off.

KFR performed a rope rescue to retrieve the individual from the ledge and no injuries were reported.

Life Safety Educator Jamie Chase said these types of rescues become more common in the spring.

“Peterson Creek, we get people sometimes just slip and fall. This time of year there’s always ice on the trails and people need to be careful,” Chase said. “Unfortunately, some of the places in the park here are where they can get themselves into trouble when they fall off somewhere.”

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Chase said rescues are often required when hikers decide to take unnecessary risks.

“We always get a spike in the spring at Peterson Creek Park of people near the waterfall that are trying to climb up,” he said. “Often, they’re trying to get just the perfect angle for a good shot of the waterfall, sometimes a selfie or just a photo and they don’t realize how steep it’s getting. They climb up higher than they probably should have. We have a couple spots there that when we get a call there, we know pretty much right where people are going to be because they get in trouble in the same spot.”

Every time KFR is called out to rescue a fallen or stuck hiker, it can take eight to 10 crew members to safely help the person out.

“Any kind of a rope rescue, it’s very equipment intensive,” Chase said. “It takes us time to get our equipment to where we need it, to get it set up, and then to do the rescue. It’s not something that happens instantly, so people just be very careful, especially when conditions are slippery.”

Chase encouraged anyone enjoying the city’s parks to bring appropriate footwear for icy conditions and to pay attention to their surroundings.

“Plan for if something were to happen, you may be there for a while before we can get you out.”