When people go missing in the mountains: 2 Unsolved Cases

What happens when someone sets off into the mountains, but never returns? This video lays out some of the responses and searches that result when people go missing in the backcountry. I follow two real life cases that happened one month apart in the Sea to Sky region, one in Squamish and one in Pemberton, both happened in the same year, 2010. I visited both places and trails where the disappearances occurred to get a feel for the areas and see the landscape for myself. As with all unsolved cases, there is more questions than answers.
Thanks to Mark Keenan for joining me to Valentine Lake, and taking some clips.
Thanks for watching!

Video and editing by Luke Gibson.
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References:
The Cold Vanish by Jon Billman
Mamquam Pass/Fools Gold Route, Squamish, Tyler Wright
Squamish SAR call stats
North Shore Rescue calls in 2021
Valentine Lake, Pemberton, Jonathan Jette and Rachael Bagnall

Music: (in order of appearance)
Operator by Jason Staczek
Rough Landing by Andrew Odd
Unknown Phenomenon by Andrew Odd
Licensed under Creative Commons ATTRIBUTION-NODERIVATIVES 4.0 INTERNATIONAL
Fringe Weaver by Nihilore
Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)

[milesru]

Great video man. I wish SAR would make a report after bodies are found with some information as to how they assume it happened. I think myself and the public can learn alot from these cases.

[scottculver]

The best thing you can do is helping to let others know about these cases, this is very important.
Great work Luke.

[stupetw]

This is an excellent subject to explore. A lot going on on the BC Triangle of missing people. Nice video Luke, as always.

[twentiethcenturyboy]

Great to see a new video from you my friend. Sadly, this one plucks at the heart strings. Very kind of you to make this video. Interesting facts and tribute to some fellow hikers. 😢

[ryansmith]

I stumbled on that plaque for Tyler I was out exploring alone. When you get out there at a point you realize your insignificants and frailty, and yet you're pulled forward by a sense of wonder and curiosity.

[Far_Sky]

Beautiful awareness video. Thanks for making it!

[andybiker-hiker]

Well done, Luke. I recall both cases vividly and having had prior experience forest engineering experience in the area, I took a keen interest in the Spetch Ck situation. A heartbreaking situation and very mysterious as well.

[nanchesca]

I remember that year well because i was really getting into hiking at that time. I hope one day they are found and the families can have closure.

Great video and great soundtrack👍🏻

[andrewmacaulay]

Thank you. We seem to forget as time passes by.. the search should never stop for those that Presently explore these areas by others.

New Brunswick Canada

[BackCountryWrenching]

Amazing video, keeping the memory of these people alive. Hopefully someday they will be found.

[pinebearclub]

I often wonder when my buddy and I would just up and leave on weekend adventures in the backcountry of Whistler what could have happened.
I mean back in the early 90’s there was nothing but sheer wilderness and little to no tech. We had a concept of a route and no maps, relying on memory alone as we were too poor to buy proper topo maps to bring with us.
We were young and dumb, full of energy and little common sense, and rarely told friends of our destination and eta.

So hats off to those search and rescue men and women who risk their lives and health for the lost, injured and missing.

For it could have been me, but my card wasn’t drawn that day.

Bryan from Gambier

[ParkourBrian]

My heart still breaks for Ryan’s family after his Disappearance from Sun Peaks

[agesadventures]

Yeah, that totally looked like a boxer! That's an awesome plaque for Tyler.
It's so easy to disappear or get lost in the forests we have. That is why I carry my Zoleo with me out there. It's not a guarantee of rescue, but it's certainly a good safety piece to have.
We've had a number of people go missing on Vancouver Island. I always keep my eye out when I'm in the woods to see if there is anything that may be them or anything that looks out of place out there.
Search and Rescue do a great job and it's nice to have them.
It's good that you're telling these stories. It lets people know to be more careful out there.

[wanderlustinyyc]

Very well done video, maybe one of your best!

[bobgillis]

Interesting and likely tragic. I hope some answers eventuate for the families. I haven't done extensive hiking like yourself, but certainly enough to know that it is hard to underestimate the natural risks posed by wilderness. The remoteness compounds such risk. When hiking alone, I tend to do less risky things, as even a sprained ankle far from help could pose a serious hazard to returning. My tenants in Kaslo had an incident that may have proved fatal if they were more remote or alone. The male in a couple had instinctively tried to protect his dog from a falling off an edge, only to fall and break his own collarbone on the nearby bottom. Had his wife not been a nurse or not been there at all, it may ended with dire results. Thanks for the vids.

[betweenthepines]

Happens every week in the sea to sky. Luckily 999 of 1000 are generally found or recovered

[bradmacdonald]

It's hard to say, the force of the water cannot be understated, the most likely scenario imo is he was a bear's dinner, maybe the couple too. RIP

[hedsy]

Do you use any sort of gps emergency device like Garmin or Zoleo? I'm thinking of getting one but I dont know which option to choose.

[keithquinn]

Nice vid, I’m local too, in between the mountains Saxifrage and Cayoosh…. Don’t go there. There is something there.

[bxx]

Hiking in 2010 with no GPS in that wilderness is a death sentence if you're not an expert navigator