Mount Cheam, Fraser Valley D, BC, Canada

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Mount Cheam, Fraser Valley D, BC, Canada

Mount Cheam, Fraser Valley D, BC, Canada
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Climbing

Climbing

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Mountain

Crash or collision

Crash or collision

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Snow

Climbing

Mount Cheam, Fraser Valley D, BC, Canada

49.1866666°N, -121.6816666°W

Posted on March 11, 2021 by Tom Belanger

What happened?

I woke up around 6 am and took down my base-camp from the previous 2 days of climbing. I was climbing down an are where it was extremely treacherous with frozen waterfalls and ice everywhere. I had to put my mountaineering crampons on to navigate the ice, I took a step and the ice broke underneath me and I fell 20 ft. I landed hard on my left side, I knew when i landed i couldn’t walk or move. So I set off my beacon and within 10 minutes i was contacted by beacon headquarters and explained what happened and they dispatched Kent Harrison Search and rescue of Agassiz British Columbia. I was able to keep in contact with a Zoleo messenger system i carry along with my beacon to give terrain and trail conditions for SAR to rescue me. It was about 2 hours and SAR was with me taking me down on a stretcher to the ambulance. 

I was in so much pain i was just grateful for SAR to rescue me. After about 7 hours in the hospital only to find i didn’t break any bones but badly bruised my whole left side. I’ve been doing back country expeditions for over 20 years and I’m always prepared with a beacon, sat phone and a messaging system. I’ve never had to use them before for help, but when i needed it it was there and it was amazing how quick the response time really was. 

Words of wisdom

Take every precaution necessary to be safe. Always go over prepared and be aware of all dangers including dangers you cant see cause thats what made me fall. 

Thank you note

Thank you to your technology to keep us safe wherever we are. if it wasn’t for my beacon and messenger system i wouldn’t be writing this. Im forever grateful for your technology

Rescue location

Mount Cheam, Fraser Valley D, BC, Canada

Rescue team

Local Search and Rescue

ResQLink™ 400

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