Coquitlam Search and Rescue collecting group of campers at Widgeon Falls after campsite washes out

COQUITLAM (NEWS 1130) — A group of people, believed to be a family, are in the process of being rescued after their camping trip became a potential nightmare in the Widgeon Falls area in northern Coquitlam.

Local Search and Rescue Manager Michael Coyle say the adult and two children have seen their adventure (which they had planned for months) cut short due to the long-dormant rains.

“It certainly would have been a wet and cold night for the hikers,” he says.

“Some hikers … reported that a creek had washed out their camp. We have very spotty communication with them. So not a lot of details. But they reported that they were hiking down the trail and that they were wet and cold and would appreciate a SAR response to help them.”

Coquitlam SAR members are responding to a party of wet and cold hikers on the Widgeon Falls trail reporting their camp was washed out by a creek last night.

Accessing the are using our 4×4, side-by-side and ebikes.

— Coquitlam SAR (@CoquitlamSAR) August 7, 2021

No injuries have been reported, and the SAR team is sending up vehicles — including e-bikes — up the trail to meet the group.

“Most of the summer a lot of these creeks, they just dry right up. And so a lot of rain in a short period of time, especially on dry ground you can get — it’s not a flash flood around here, but it is similar. It’s like a lot of rain moving down and those creeks that might be dry all summer that you’ve never seen before they’re suddenly roaring.”

Coyle added while he encourages people to prepare before they head to the outdoors, “obviously there are situations … where something happens, is completely unexpected, and you’re just not ready for it. That’s why SAR is here.”