All signs have now been removed. Thanks everyone!

Dec 9th 11:30 AM Update:

I have been informed that the incorrect sign at Cypress Provincial Park has been removed. It’s a little confusing but it appears that the sign may have been put up by BC Parks staff (most other signs in that room are Cypress Resort signs and there was no BC Parks label on the sign.) BC Parks staff will be reviewing the sign and making any required changes before it is put up again.

December 7th 2:40 PM Update:

I have not heard from Whistler Olympic Park but they have edited their webpage to remove the problematic wording. Thank you!

December 5th 5:30 PM Update:

I have just received some great news from Robyn Barker at Manning Park Resort. The full comment can be seen below in the comments section. They will be changing the wording on their website and signage to reflect the that rescue subjects are not charged for rescues in BC.

My response to Robyn and Manning Park Resort:

“ Robyn, thank you very much for your quick review of the issue and for your actions. We all share the same concerns about backcountry users needing to be prepared and we are all frustrated when we come across people who have not yet taken that message seriously. As you have pointed out, E.C. Manning Park is a long way from the nearest town with a rescue team. Even in areas that are very close to rescue teams, a rapid response is not always possible. Everyone who ventures into the backcountry must be prepared to be self-sufficient and to self-rescue to the extent that is possible. I appreciate that your signs are designed to communicate that message. However, when things go horribly wrong, it’s important that people do not hesitate to activate a request for help out of fear of financial consequences and so thank you for changing that part of the wording. I am looking forward to making continued visits to Manning Park Resort and E.C. Manning Park.”

Initial Post:

This letter is directed to two audiences:

To backcountry users of BC: Know that SAR is a free service. You should always head into the mountains with the proper equipment, knowledge, experience and partners. However, stuff happens. Bones break. Equipment malfunctions. People get lost. Don’t hesitate to call for help when you are in trouble. To the Whistler Olympic Park, Manning Park Resort and Cypress Mountain Resort and/or BC Parks: Please immediately remove all materials from your websites and physical locations that suggest that members of the public that are visiting the backcountry areas adjacent to your ski areas will be charged if they need SAR services. You may choose to form your own policies for your frontcountry customers but there are no SAR teams in BC that charge for backcountry rescues for members of the public.

If you break a leg in BC, it doesn’t matter if it happens on a sports field, a sidewalk or a hiking trail: The system will do its best to make sure you are brought to safety. Without a doubt, Search and Rescue is the most cost-efficient part of our healthcare system because it is staffed entirely with volunteers. These volunteers put in massive amounts of time and put their own lives at risk to save people who need finding and rescuing.

SAR volunteers are adamant that rescue subjects should never be charged for a rescue and there is no SAR team in BC that charges a fee for their service. If there is fear of a massive bill, subjects and their families will delay putting out a call for help. There are many downsides to delayed calls:

Search Area: Let’s assume that your subject may move at 3 km/h in any direction from their last known location. After 2 hours, your search area is 13 km². After 6 hours, your search area is 113 km². A quick response makes a huge difference.

Let’s assume that your subject may move at 3 km/h in any direction from their last known location. After 2 hours, your search area is 13 km². After 6 hours, your search area is 113 km². A quick response makes a huge difference. Daylight and Weather: Delayed calls result in searches having to be performed in the middle of the night. This is more complicated because SAR teams in BC do not have access to helicopters that perform search operations at night. Delays also increase the risk of the tracks being wiped out by weather.

Delayed calls result in searches having to be performed in the middle of the night. This is more complicated because SAR teams in BC do not have access to helicopters that perform search operations at night. Delays also increase the risk of the tracks being wiped out by weather. Success Rate: Due to the increasing size of the search area and the unforgiving survival curves for injured subjects that are exposed to the elements, delayed searches more turn into body recovery missions or end without any resolution.

Due to the increasing size of the search area and the unforgiving survival curves for injured subjects that are exposed to the elements, delayed searches more turn into body recovery missions or end without any resolution. Costs: Even when all of the search hours are provided by volunteers, delayed searches generate higher levels of costs (helicopter time, incidentals, etc.)

Even when all of the search hours are provided by volunteers, delayed searches generate higher levels of costs (helicopter time, incidentals, etc.) Danger: Complexity and time in the field combine to expose volunteers to greater levels of danger.

The people who actually perform Search and Rescue missions in BC could not be more clear about the fact that SAR is free in BC and that it is important for the public to know that it’s free. Here are just two examples:

From the BC Search and Rescue Association:

“ The British Columbia Search and Rescue Association (BCSARA) believes that the perceived or actual belief that a lost or injured person or their loved ones will be charged for a search and rescue response could directly affect the decision as to if or when a call for professional help will be made.” “ The BCSARA will conduct search and rescue missions when requested to do so by the authorized tasking agencies for persons in danger or distress in the province of BC without charge. We will do so regardless of the reason they have found themselves requiring our assistance.”

From North Shore Rescue:

“ We do not support charging for rescues primarily due to the risk of a lost or injured person or their family/friends delaying a call for help. Through over 50 years of Search and Rescue work on the north shore, we have seen many calls where family have been under the impression that they would be charged, and delayed their calls for help. Another situation we have run into is a subject being under the impression they would be charged, and avoiding rescuers (trying to follow them out). There are significant risks and costs which can be associated with this.”

Given all of the above, it is frustrating that three major ski areas are currently telling members of the public otherwise.

Whistler Olympic Park (December 7th update — Problem now fixed)

Whistler Olympic Park is located in the Callaghan Valley. Backcountry users can pay a small fee to park in their parking lots. Users quickly travel beyond the boundary of WOP facility into a vast area of Crown Land with many backcountry skiing destinations. Many of the visitors to this area are tourists or are unfamiliar with how SAR works in BC.

WOP currently tells users that if vehicles are not removed by 4:30 pm then they will notify RCMP who will contact SAR which is a fair policy. However, appearing to speak on behalf of local SAR teams, WOP states that users will be charged for the full cost of the rescue. This is simply not true.