North Shore Rescue receives thank you letter from 8-year-old

Despite facingwhat's on pace to be North Shore Rescue's busiest year ever, volunteers say they appreciate the heart-felt thanks sent in a written letter from an eight-year-old after crewsrescued the boyand his father from the HanesValley.

"The little boy, he was the cutest kid ever, and he was over the moon about the experience," said search manager Doug Pope. "It's a difficult thing being a volunteer with North Shore Rescue. We've had 73 calls already this year. So as a volunteer, most of us have day jobs, it's not an easy thing, but something like this helps make it all worthwhile."

On SundayJuly 17, 2016, Ross Van Winckel and his son were hiking in the Hanes Valley when they ran into trouble.

Van Winckelactivated a locator beacon, which was relayed to NSR, who responded and found the duo, hiked them to a helipad and flew them to safety, "just prior to a lightning storm rolling into the area," said a post on NSR's Facebook page.

A few days later the boy broughtthem a drawing of the helicopter, and a letter full of thanks and enthusiasm while Pope says Van Winckel gave NSR a donation.

Pope saidthe team often gets thank you letters and cards from people it has saved. "It's really nice to see," he said, adding that NSR keeps a cork board at its North Vancouver rescue base where the notes are posted.

"Most of them are very gracious and thankful, so it is pretty rewarding that way."

In itssocial media post about the letter, NSR says the pair were well-prepared in having a satellite device, which is one of the top ten essential itemsNSR continually preaches for people to bring on their adventures into the North Shore mountains.

North Shore rescue is anticipating a busy week ahead with the sunny forecast and the long weekend approaching.

Already this year the volunteer crew has responded to at least 73 calls with two on Sunday July 24. It's an increase of roughly 20 per cent over this time last year, even though last year wasa record year for the number of calls tothe volunteer outfit,at136.

"Last year ... was by far a record year for us," said Pope. "We were run off our feet last year. But end of July last year even in the record yearwe only had 60 calls compared to 73 that we're at, and we still have a week left in this month."

with files from Stephanie Mercier.