A retired paramedic with about 25 years of mountaineering experience 乌鸦传媒� globally 乌鸦传媒� was shocked during a recent hike to Evan乌鸦传媒檚 Peak, at the people he was encountering along the way.

People who were wearing sneakers, jeans and cotton shirts, and overall ill-prepared for the conditions on the mountain.

And with many people preparing to get out and enjoy nature during the holidays, Langley resident Clinton Rennie wants to warn hikers to be prepared if venturing along mountainous hikes.

He was breaking ground late November during a hike to the peak. He started off from the parking lot in Golden Ears Provincial Park at around 7:30 a.m., wearing all synthetic gear in addition to technical boots.

During the hike he encountered a lot of snow and ice, he said.

There乌鸦传媒檚 a little rocky section along the trail to the summit where somebody has put in a rope that was covered in ice.

乌鸦传媒淚乌鸦传媒檓 smashing off the ice, I乌鸦传媒檓 looking for footholds,乌鸦传媒� he said.

But once he got past that point he was about knee to mid-thigh deep in snow.

After a celebratory hot chocolate at the peak, he made his way down again.

As he descended, between 11 and 2 p.m., he came across about 10 to 12 hikers 乌鸦传媒� none of them prepared for the conditions, he said.

Rennie would ask people where they were going and if they had hiked the trail before. Not a single person he asked had actually hiked to Evan乌鸦传媒檚 Peak before.

乌鸦传媒淚乌鸦传媒檓 thinking holy smokes you guys are going to get trapped or worse,乌鸦传媒� he said, noticing the inappropriate clothing and lack of equipment.

乌鸦传媒淚 had multi-layer, full synthetic gear on and I was still wet, like, I乌鸦传媒檓 not comfortable. I乌鸦传媒檓 warm but I乌鸦传媒檓 wet,乌鸦传媒� he said.

乌鸦传媒淚 ran into one gentleman (who) had sneakers on, jeans on and a cotton long sleeve shirt and I just thought, you乌鸦传媒檙e going to die here,乌鸦传媒� he added.

Rennie also noted how late in the day the hikers were making their way up.

乌鸦传媒淚t乌鸦传媒檚 a late start. They乌鸦传媒檙e still going up,乌鸦传媒� he noted.

乌鸦传媒淚乌鸦传媒檓 thinking I乌鸦传媒檝e got head lamps and everything, but, I don乌鸦传媒檛 think they realize how dark it gets and how quickly.

乌鸦传媒淎nd you乌鸦传媒檙e in the canopy of the trees,乌鸦传媒� he added.

Rennie thinks there should be more signage along the trails alerting hikers to the fact that they are entering the alpine area.

Signage that Rick Laing, who heads up the local search and rescue team, doesn乌鸦传媒檛 think will help.

乌鸦传媒淏y that time people have already made the commitment to hike the trail,乌鸦传媒� Laing said, adding that hikers will either think they are prepared enough or that they are not driving home for more gear.

乌鸦传媒淗ow much do you have to babysit people,乌鸦传媒� he asked, explaining that they see ill-prepared people hiking the trail all the time 乌鸦传媒� people who don乌鸦传媒檛 bring flashlights, they don乌鸦传媒檛 have warm clothes, they have improper footwear.

乌鸦传媒淚 don乌鸦传媒檛 know how much more we can do to advise the public, you have to take these precautions,乌鸦传媒� he said.

He乌鸦传媒檚 surprised there are not more rescues along the route to Evan乌鸦传媒檚 and Golden Ears peaks for people who are ill-prepared.

乌鸦传媒淚t乌鸦传媒檚 just blind luck that they get off the mountain safely,乌鸦传媒� he said.

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There is a sign at the Mike Lake turnoff, Laing said, warning people they are heading into the wilderness area, to be prepared for conditions, and to let someone know where they are going.

乌鸦传媒淚 don乌鸦传媒檛 think that more signage would make a change,乌鸦传媒� he said.

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With snow in the forecast Laing is warning people, again, if they are not prepared not to go into the back country, because it can lead to deadly consequences.

Avalanche danger is also going to go up, he said, adding that hikers should have the proper avalanche equipment and training.

乌鸦传媒淓specially in this kind of weather, they乌鸦传媒檝e got to be extra, extra careful.乌鸦传媒�

For more information about safety when hiking in the mountains go to .