Below: Scott Larsen, a rope rescue facilitator from Comox Valley Search and Rescue, shows how to rig a stretcher prior to lowering it for a rescue. On the right (dark glasses) is Susan McFarland of Wells Gray Search and Rescue.
They were taking part in the third biannual Southern Interior Rope Exercise (SIRE) held on the cliffs above Blackpool last weekend.
A total of 72 participants from 17 SAR organizations plus eight provincial SAR rope rescue facilitators took part.
These included BC Cave Rescue, Castlegar SAR, Central Fraser Valley SAR (Abbotsford), Comox Valley SAR, Central Okanagan SAR (Kelowna), Kamloops SAR, Mission SAR, Nelson SAR, Osoyoos/Oliver SAR, Penticton SAR, Prince George SAR, South Cariboo SAR (100 Mile House), South Columbia SAR (Trail), Shuswap SAR (Salmon Arm), Surrey SAR, Vernon SAR, and Wells Gray SAR (Clearwater).
