ABOVE: A group of B.C. hikers had a lesson in paying it forward. They were on their way to a mountain in the Fraser Valley, just outside of Vancouver, when they ran out of gas and didn’t have enough fuel to get home. So they crossed their fingers and hoped someone would help them out. Some strangers did come through – in the most surprising way. John Hua has the story.
A day out hiking has turned into a ‘pay it forward’ lesson for a group of friends in the Fraser Valley.
They had headed out to Mount Cheam last weekend when they ran out of gas and didn’t have enough fuel to get home.
So they crossed their fingers and banked on complete strangers to help them out.
“We were going to Mount Cheam,” said hiker Derek Froese. “Get to the top with no casualties, snacks in tact.”
But the weekend’s first hiccup happened before the hiking even began – gas was running low.
The group decided to forge ahead anyway.
“I think when you’re going uphill your gas reads a little bit lower,” said hiker Lee Kliewer, trying to reason why they didn’t turn around to go back for gas. “When you’re going downhill you can coast most of the way down, going neutral.”
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So the group decided to leave a note under the windshield wiper, along with 30 dollars, in the hopes someone would give them some gas.
“It was a little bit nerve-racking leaving the truck with some cash, and a note and just hoping for the best,” said hiker Jon Friesen.
But when they returned to their truck, they got the best surprise of the day.
“The best part of the hike was hearing Sam yell ‘we have gas!'” said hiker Miranda Mulder.
And not just gas for their truck – they also received a note saying “we gased you up, check the gas compartment… Pay it forward.”
Inside the compartment was the $30 the group left behind.
As for paying it forward, the group already has a plan.
“Next time we go up we’ll have our own jerry can of gas,” said hiker Samantha Fischer. “And if anyone else is in the same predicament, help them.”
The group just wants to say a big “thank you” to the strangers that helped them make it home that day.
– With files from John Hua.
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