Editor's Note: Here's why we're including safety information in all our outdoor posts

Here in Vancouver we’re lucky enough to live in one of the most beautiful corners of the world, with access to some of the best Mother Nature has to offer, right on our doorsteps.

From stunning hikes to glacial lakes, thundering waterfalls to adrenalin pumping mountain bike trails, we have it all.

But it’s important to remember the Great Outdoors isn’t something to be taken lightly. Indeed, it’s important to understand the hazards inherent to any outdoors activity, and careful planning and preparation needs to be taken before any trip.

That’s something that becomes all too apparent when you read about the apparently never-ending stream of preventable rescues by North Shore Rescue every week.

These volunteers repeatedly put themselves on the line to rescue those stranded or struggling. But all too often, their work could have been avoided if people hadn’t put themselves in a dangerous situation in the first place.

We’ve previously focused on their work, speaking to volunteers directly and publishing advice on how you can stay safe on the trails.

But a recent blog post from North Shore Rescue’s Curtis Jones has pointed out that those of us in the media can always be doing more to help the brave people who volunteer their time to help those in need.

And do you know what? He’s right.

A change in policy

Here at Daily Hive, we love the Great Outdoors, and so we naturally produce guides to share some of the beautiful things that British Columbia has to offer.

But even though we always make a point of reminding our readers to properly prepare for any adventure, NSR’s blog post reminds us that we can always do a better job, particularly when it comes to pointing you all in the direction of their expert advice.

With that in mind, from now on, every outdoors guide we publish will be followed with the following note:

For your own safety, please make sure you are prepared before heading out on your next adventure. Information on how to prepare for your trip and stay safe while on your hike is available from North Shore Rescue and AdventureSmart.

If you have any questions about our outdoors content or any suggestions on how we can help to inform our readers so they can stay safe in the wilderness, please get in touch with us at [email protected].

Once again, we’d like to extend our heartfelt appreciation to North Shore Rescue and all of the volunteers around BC who work tirelessly to help those people in need. We are lucky to have you and are eternally grateful for your service.

See also

• Here's what a search and rescue volunteer has to say about staying safe on the trails