An overdue hiker who ran into trouble in Strathcona Provincial Park used parts from his damaged vehicle to build a makeshift wagon for his gear, then made it to safety after walking for four days to get to a trailhead.
From there, he’s believed to have been picked up by a water taxi that operates in Great Central Lake, before getting a lift to the Alberni Valley Rescue Squad’s hall in Port Alberni.
He turned up at the hall at about 3:45 p.m. Monday to let the squad know he was safe — just as ground teams of searchers were being sent out.
The squad said the “welcome surprise” underscores the value of preparation, situational awareness and resilience in the back country, saying the fact the hiker left a detailed trip plan with his family — as well as photos of his gear, clothing and the route he was taking — “significantly” aided search planning.
His ingenuity in building and using the wagon also likely helped him conserve energy and complete the journey safely, the squad said.
The rescue squad had been alerted at 9:45 a.m. Monday by the Port Alberni RCMP that the hiker had not returned from a trip to the Della Falls area of Strathcona Provincial Park.
Search manager Richard Johns said the trip plan the hiker prepared was “vital” for the rescue squad and let searchers know where he was.
“He took the exact path he said he was going to take.”
The hiker had started his trip on June 30 and told his father to let authorities know if he wasn’t back in seven days.
He drove out as far as he could on the logging roads and spent four days hiking in the Della Falls area, Johns said.
After a cougar encounter just before he got back to his vehicle, he took a wrong turn and got stuck.
Johns said he was impressed with the hiker’s “perseverance and survival mentality,” but said one of the few things he did wrong was having just a cellphone for communication. “Obviously there’s no cell signal out there.”
Those headed to the back country should carry a GPS device and/or a smartphone capable of satellite communication, as well as a fully charged power bank, the squad said.
Johns said the hiker also used a low-clearance vehicle, a 2000 Chevrolet Cavalier, that led to him getting stuck in deep mud on logging roads, causing a leak in the oil pan.
He said that 4x4s with high clearance should be used to travel on logging roads in the area.
Faced with having to walk out of the remote location, the hiker used spare tires and some pieces of metal to fashion the two-wheeled wagon for his gear, Johns said.
He said the rescue squad’s first step in responding to the alert about the hiker was to call in a helicopter from Ascent Helicopters, which was deployed with squad members aboard.
“While the subject’s vehicle was not initially found, searchers spotted gear consistent with his description — an encouraging sign they were on the right track,” the squad said.
The squad advised people thinking about a similar trip to the back country to consider using the water-taxi service on Great Central Lake to get to where they’re going, since it lets them avoid difficult road conditions.
