Despite an unusually slow start to the season, Jasper’s search and rescue teams have had a busy week with four rescues in the last seven days.

“It was unusually quiet prior to that... but this is normal for summer,” said, manager of public safety for Jasper National Park, Steve Blake .

From the three rescues there was only one injury – a broken ankle – which happened on the Angel Glacier at the base of Edith Cavell Mountain about 8 p.m. last Wednesday.

“They were just wandering off the trail there, (and) twisted their ankle in some rocky bouldery post-glacier moraines,” said Blake.

A straightforward ground rescue for Blake and his crew, the woman from Northern Alberta, was rescued within an hour.

Using a stretcher with one wheel, Blake and his team safely reached the 38-year-old woman and took her to the hospital.

“It’s what we call a high visitation use,” said Blake adding that her injury was more “bad luck” than anything else.

However, he suggested that the woman probably wouldn’t have hurt herself if she’d stayed on the designated and marked trail.

In the most thrilling of the rescues, a helicopter-sling was used last Saturday at Morro Peak. Two rescuers, Blake and co-worker Max Darrah, were suspended under the helicopter and landing beside the two inexperienced rock climbers, clipped them in and flew them off the rockface.

“They were just scared and getting a little bit chilly as they were both wearing shorts and t-shirts” said Blake.

Both from Edmonton and in their early twenties, the couple were new to rock climbing and were scaling ‘The Guides Route’ which, according to Blake, is not a difficult route.

“They probably found it quite easy the climbing,” he said, “but as with anytime you go from mountain climbing versus rock climbing at a sports climbing area, lose rock and various amounts of protection and you don’t necessarily (have) the same sorts of anchors and bolts.”

“They just got off the route and tried to descend under their own power, but ran out of wherewithal and equipment and had a close call with someone not being attached properly.”

“It’s a mountain, it’s just a totally different game,” he added.

Blake also said he would always recommend wearing a helmet when rock climbing.

“Don’t go anywhere without a helmet,” he said noting that the information centre and the public safety specialists were always willing to give advice to proactively prohibit these issues.

The fourth rescue for the week was on Tuesday afternoon, when an 18-year-old was bucked off her horse in the Tonquin Valley.

As the accident happened just by one of the Tonquin Valley Adventure Cabin’s, Parks was able to land the helicopter in the valley and rescue her.

Blake said the girl had sore ribs but was unsure at press time if there was any further injuries.