Extensive search for missing camper who wasn’t missing

Jun 24, 2020 | 4:48 PM

Police are reminding people heading into the back country to make sure they provide details of where they will be to family members or friends.

Packing along a portable cellphone charger also wouldn’t be a bad idea.

That advice comes after police teams, along with Vernon Search and Rescue, spent three days combing through the remote Trinity Valley area east of Enderby for a lost camper.

The camper had called 911 Friday night after getting disoriented in the bush and needing help to find their way back to their campsite.

“Not familiar with the area, the camper could only provide a general location where they had set up camp when they set out on foot,” Cpl. Tania Finn, media relations officer, said. “Without specific details on the whereabouts of the campsite or anything to indicate the location of the camper, frontline officers attended to the general area to conduct patrols and sound the siren in the police vehicle in an attempt to establish a location to search on foot. Unfortunately, police dispatch was unable to maintain contact with the caller’s cellphone to assist with triangulating a location.”

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After searching through the weekend, the campsite was located Monday afternoon (June 22) by a police helicopter conducting patrols of the area.

“The missing camper was found safe at the campsite and advised they had been unable to update police they no longer required assistance because their cellphone lost battery power,” Finn added.

Given the considerable police resources used for these types of calls, Finn said it’s a good reminder for people using the back country to ensure they provide details of where they will be to family or friends.

“It is very fortunate that this incident was able to resolve itself and the camper found their way safely back to their campsite. However, had we had information on where the campsite was located, this could have been resolved within a few hours of police being called,” Finn said.

In order to enjoy the backcountry safely, it is advisable to research your route, plan where you will be camping and hiking, share your plan with others, be prepared for accidents and have ‘just in case’ items including warm clothing, extra water and a portable cellphone charger.

by Pete McIntyre

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