Prince George Search and Rescue (PGSAR) successfully located a man in his late 70s who went missing while hiking along the Great Divide Trail. The man had been trekking the trail for two weeks, facing challenging route finding and bushwhacking, before getting separated from his hiking companion. Upon realizing he was overdue and missing, his partner contacted the RCMP for assistance.
Dave Merritt, a manager at PGSAR, mentioned the extensive search efforts that involved using drones, deploying searchers on mountaintops to navigate down to valley bottoms along common hiking routes of the Great Divide Trail. The search operation was led by Robson Valley Search and Rescue, with support from Prince George, Fort St. John search and rescue teams, and volunteers from Crescent Spur Heliskiing.
The Great Divide Trail spans over 1,100 kilometers, crossing the boundary between Alberta and British Columbia through the Canadian Rockies. The missing hiker was found in a remote area between Tumbler Ridge and McBride.
Despite the challenging terrain and lack of ground access, the man was located within 48 hours of the search initiation and was found to be in good spirits. He had ample food supplies, a well-equipped backpack with a tent, and other essentials, indicating his preparedness for the unexpected. Merritt emphasized the importance of being well-prepared with extra provisions and a communication plan while venturing into wilderness areas.
The successful rescue operation highlighted the dedication of the search and rescue teams, underscoring the value of their training and efforts in reuniting lost individuals with their families.