Two brothers were separated during a hiking trip and good preparation helped Search and Rescue crews find and reunite them.
Elk Valley RCMP officials say they were dispatched at about 6:30 p.m. on Monday, Sep. 23 on a report of a missing hiker in the Line Creek Mine area, southeast of Elkford.
The reports came from InReach, which is a satellite communicator that allows people to access help quickly in the backcountry.
Police say the older brother, a 30-year-old Calgary man, was reporting his 27-year-old brother as missing.
“Both were experienced hikers, in reported good health and were prepared to spend the night outdoors at specific locations along the Great Divide Trail,” said RCMP officials.
Elkford Search and Rescue were activated and set up a command post at the Line Creek Mine main gate.
The older brother found a hunter who helped him search for his brother to no avail. He was later found and brought to the Elkford SAR command post.
Afterwards, another SAR team was brought in to help.
“At the request of Elkford SAR, Alberta Southwest Regional Search and Rescue were activated to search from the Alberta side, as their next camping location was in that area,” said Elk Valley RCMP.
Early the next morning, Alberta SAR say they found the missing brother safe at the planned camping location and the siblings were reunited.
Elk Valley RCMP officials said this incident is a great example of how the unexpected can still happen even when you have proper equipment and you stick to a continuous plan along a known route.
“We are extremely grateful to have well-trained volunteers to assist in these situations. Elk Valley RCMP would like to thank Elkford SAR, Alberta Southwest SAR and the EVR Line Creek Mine Operation for their assistance with this investigation,” said Elk Valley RCMP.
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