March 23, 2009

PenSAR was happy to assist Oliver Osoyoos Search and Rescue with a technical rope rescue on McIntyre Bluff, Sunday evening, 22 March, 2009. Oliver Osoyoos requested our help in rescuing a climber who was stranded on a ledge 300 + feet below the top of the bluff, after he broke his rock drill, leaving him unable to either continue down the face or to return to the top.

With daylight fading rapidly PenSAR flew eight members and rope rescue gear to the top of McIntyre Bluff, using Eclipse Helicopters’ A-Star, ably  piloted by Eric Stoof.  Just over three hours after Oliver Osoyoos was notified, PenSAR had the subject back on the top of McIntyre Bluff.   As night had now fallen, the rescue team and subject had to make a one and a half hour hike out to the waiting OOSAR and PenSAR support teams at Covert Farms. The rope rescue gear was cached and retrieved the next morning by long-line, again by Eclipse Helicopters, this time with pilot Derek Robinson.

Had the task been initiated an hour later it would have necessitated a long hike in to the top of the bluff, and would have required considerably more time and person- power to effect the rescue.

This was a job well done by everyone involved!

The route the subject was bolting is just left of the big cut in the rock face.