Woman rescued after ‘bum sliding’ down West Vancouver mountain and fracturing ankle

Hikers are being warned of the dangers of using “bum sliding” as a means to descend mountains after the seemingly fun and safer mode of travel landed one woman in hospital.

Hikers are being warned of the dangers of using “bum sliding” as a means to descend mountains after the seemingly fun and safer mode of travel landed one woman in hospital.

Just before 4 p.m. on Saturday, North Shore Rescue were called to the Hollyburn hiking trail on Cypress Mountain to assist a woman with a severely fractured ankle, said shift manager Don Jardine.

The woman, who had been well prepared with shoes with microspikes on while hiking the West Vancouver mountain with her partner, was sliding down the hill while seated when her foot got stuck in a hole. As the momentum continued to propel her upper body forward, her ankle snapped.

“When we arrived we planted her leg, which relieved a lot of the pain. Otherwise it was pretty unsupported, honestly she was quite a trooper to keep from passing out from the pain,” said Jardine.

Six North Shore Rescue crew members carried the woman down the mountain via toboggan, to where a snowcat vehicle sent by the ski resort was waiting.

“We got to her out about 8:30 p.m., so she had been there for about five hours in total before she was able to be transported to the hospital,” said Jardine.

While sliding down a steep hill on your backside might seem like the safest route to descend, Jardine says there are many hidden dangers that can make it far riskier than hikers expect.