A rock-climbing outing north of Vancouver turned into an aerial rescue Tuesday after a 33-year-old woman was stung by wasps more than 100 times, reports the New York Times. She and another woman had just climbed the Redoubt Wall near Lions Bay, British Columbia, and were hiking out when one of them stepped on a nest, Lions Bay Search and Rescue said. “She was suffering a severe allergic reaction and had taken antihistamines,” said Carolyn Kelly-Smith, a rescuer who treated the victim after the group summoned a helicopter, having determined she was not able to hike out on her own.
The woman did not ultimately need an EpiPen or further medical care after the helicopter evacuation. It was the second helicopter rescue in the region this year tied to wasp swarms, prompting officials to start tracking wasp activity. They’re urging backcountry hikers to carry EpiPens, cover up with long sleeves and pants, and remember that the nest-disturber—and often dogs—are most at risk. “This is another reminder that wasp encounters can become a serious backcountry medical emergency very quickly, particularly when someone receives a large number of stings,” Lions Bay Search and Rescue tells the CBC.