K-COUNTRY – A Calgary couple was rescued Wednesday (July 8) from B.C.'S Height of the Rockies Provincial Park after being reported overdue by their family from an overnight trip to Kananaskis Country.
According to an RCMP press release, the couple left for an overnight excursion to Turbine Canyon in Peter Lougheed Provincial Park on Monday (July 6), and when they had not returned the next day, their family contacted emergency services.
RCMP from Canmore, Kananaskis and the Columbia Valley, along with RCMP Police Dog Services and air services led the search efforts Tuesday (July 8) until 9:30 p.m.
The search was assisted by Alpine Helicopters, Kananaskis Public Safety (KPS), Calgary Police Service and Elkford Search and Rescue.
The search resumed Wednesday at 6:30 a.m. and the couple was located uninjured at 9 a.m. in Height of the Rockies Provincial Park in B.C. They were air-lifted by helicopter to a staging area to be assessed by EMS.
Officials would like to remind those heading into the backcountry to go camping or hiking to have a satellite phone, or messaging device like SPOT or inReach; and to leave a detailed route plan with a family member or friend.
"Despite the warmer summer weather, [we] would like to remind backcountry enthusiasts that current conditions in higher elevations are still snow covered and to plan accordingly," added KPS public safety specialist Jeremy Mackenzie in the press release.
Turbine Canyon backcountry campground is located next to Maude Creek and a 15.1-kilometre hike from the Upper Kananaskis Lake circuit trailhead.
