A bike ride through Manning Park near Hope took an unexpected turn for one man who needed to be rescued by Hope Volunteer Search and Rescue on Monday (June 2).
Hope Search and Rescue were quickly on scene after the cyclist injured himself while riding on the Skagit River Trail. According to the rescue organization, the team was able to quickly locate the man thanks to him using a Garmin InReach satellite phone to ask for assistance. The device provided the rescue with his exact location and the man also used a mirror to make himself more visible to the helicopter.
"Additional members were en route to hike out to his location should air extraction not be possible, however, the helicopter was able to set down close to the subject and he was transported back to Hope for further care," Hope Search and Rescue said via social media.
"Please remember that most of the trails and mountains surrounding Hope do not have cell coverage, so be sure your phones are equipped with an offline emergency SOS feature, or invest in a satellite communicator before heading into the backcountry."
The team used a helicopter from Valley Helicopters Ltd. for the rescue. The extent of the man's injuries, and how he received them, is unknown at this time.
