Three Calgary hikers were flown to safety Saturday (Aug. 22) following a chilly night outdoors in stormy and subzero conditions on a mountain near Canmore.
A non-serious knee injury to one of the men, all in their 20s, made it difficult for him to move, which immobilized the trio’s descent on the Middle Sister of the famous Three Sisters, Friday evening.
Worsening weather and fading daylight forced the three to make camp and call emergency crews for assistance via cellphone. Approximately 15 to 20 centimetres of snow blanketed the rocky surface during the summer snowfall.
Two public safety specialists hiked up to the trapped trio, said Paddy Jerome, Kananaskis public safety specialist. The pair arrived around 2:45 a.m. and brought a tent and sleeping bags, and spent the remainder of the early morning with the hikers.
Jerome said the trio had been unsuccessful in starting a fire earlier during the poor conditions.
“It probably wasn’t the best day to hike up there,” Jerome said.
“(The trio) had probably what you would need for a day of scrambling … but probably weren’t prepared for overnight.”
At first light, an Alpine Helicopters rescue pilot arrived and flew the hikers out. They did not need further EMS treatment.
