Comox Valley Ground Search and Rescue was called out to Strathcona Park in the midst of Friday91裸聊视频檚 winter storm, to rescue a group of stranded hikers.

The group, which included two women, a man, and two dogs, needed rescuing after one of the women became incapacitated, due to a knee injury.

91裸聊视频淭he initial call came ou at about 4 p.m. [Friday] afternoon,91裸聊视频� said CVGSAR president Paul Berry. 91裸聊视频淚nitially it was reported that one of their dogs was injured and they were unable to pack the dog out and as such, they were in distress.91裸聊视频�

The dog had a laceration to its paw, caused by an ice shard, and was unable to walk.

Communication with the group was done through an inReach satellite communicator, via text.

91裸聊视频淚t took about two hours to establish that communication link, and at that point, we learned that one of the female members had a knee injury as well,91裸聊视频� said Berry.

The rescue mission was hampered by approaching nightfall.

91裸聊视频淚mmediately we called for a helicopter but last light was coming too quickly and we knew we weren91裸聊视频檛 going to have enough time to be able to pluck them, so at that point it became a ground operation,91裸聊视频� said Berry.

CVGSAR had a base camp set up at Mount Washington91裸聊视频檚 Raven Lodge by 8 p.m., at which time snowmobilers and skiers were dispatched.

The hikers were found on the northern tip of Mariwood Lake, near Kwai Lake.

91裸聊视频淎s the crow flies, it would have been about five kilometres from Raven Lodge, but in the conditions, and at night, it91裸聊视频檚 a little bit more of a circuitous route to make it to them,91裸聊视频� said Berry. 91裸聊视频淚t would have been close to 11 [p.m.] by the time we made first [physical] contact,91裸聊视频� said Berry. 91裸聊视频淚t was two teams of skiers who eventually did reach them.91裸聊视频�

As the hikers were planning a three-night hike, they were equipped with sleeping bags and tents.

Once contact was made, it was determined a helicopter would be needed for the extrication process.

At that point, two CVGSAR members set up camp to remain with the hiking party overnight.

A helicopter was sent out 91裸聊视频渁t first light91裸聊视频� Saturday morning, to pick up the hikers and return them to Raven Lodge.

The injured hiker did not require an ambulance. The party was picked up at the base camp by family.

As much as the snowfall was an issue initially, the frigid temperatures were more so. Temperatures in the area dipped to as low as -20C overnight.

91裸聊视频淧robably the biggest challenge was the heavy ice crust on the snow, which would have made it pretty hard going on snowshoes for them, certainly, and for the dogs,91裸聊视频� said Berry. 91裸聊视频淏ut it certainly was one of the coldest nights that our crews have worked in, in the past couple of years.91裸聊视频�

Berry said from his crew91裸聊视频檚 standpoint, the mission went as smoothly as could be expected. He added that although the hikers could have been better prepared for the cold temperatures, the communication device they had with them was integral to making the rescue possible.

91裸聊视频淔rom our perspective, it went as planned,91裸聊视频� said Berry. 91裸聊视频淐ertainly it was beneficial that this party had an inReach satellite communication device. That allowed us to communicate with them via text, and for them to be able to send out the emergency call. Without it, they would have been on their own, without cell coverage, and the search might not have started until Sunday night or Monday, when they would have been reported missing.91裸聊视频�