AT LEAST 10 CYCLISTS RESCUED BY FERNIE SAR DURING RACE
Recent events during a bikepacking race near Fernie are a great reminder to be prepared when heading out into the backcountry, even in summer.
Last week’s heavy rainfall in the southern interior resulted in unprecedented and rough weather for cyclists racing in The Tour Divide, a gruelling 4300km race that runs from Banff to the Mexican border along the Great Divide Mountain Bike Route. Around 80 millimetres of rain over two days turned into snow at higher elevations in the Kootenays, and Fernie Search and Rescue was kept busy as they responded to and rescued at least 10 cyclists who sent out emergency GPS activations, all within a 72-hour period. Most were suffering from various stages of hypothermia, and some had fallen off their bikes and sustained head injuries.
Think about your exit strategy before you go. Thankfully, these guys did.
Read the article here.
