German hiker found safe and sound

A visitor to the territory overdue from a hiking trip near Annie Lake received his first snowmobile ride Wednesday after Whitehorse RCMP found him on a trail returning from his trek.

A visitor to the territory overdue from a hiking trip near Annie Lake received his first snowmobile ride Wednesday after Whitehorse RCMP found him on a trail returning from his trek.

“I think he appreciated it,” Whitehorse RCMP Sgt. Don Rogers said this morning of the ride offered to the 27-year-old by officers out looking for him.

The hiker was reported overdue by a friend at around 10 p.m. Tuesday.

The German hiker was visiting the territory as a volunteer for the Yukon Quest International Sled-dog Race.

He had left the home he was staying at on Annie Lake Road last Saturday and was due back by noon Tuesday. He was set to travel to a cabin at Alligator Lake, about 32 kilometres west of the road.

When he didn’t return as scheduled, his friend attempted to travel the route by dog-sled, but had to turn back due to high snowdrifts.

His friend then called the RCMP at around 8:30 p.m. Tuesday, with police opting to try to track down the hiker the following morning due to the late hour.

An auxiliary constable and an RCMP constable travelled by snowmachines on the main trail to Alligator Lake and found the hiker heading back.

The German had reached his destination safely, but had opted to stay put longer than planned due to the fresh snow and poor visibility a storm had brought.

“I think experience served him well,” Rogers said.

The man had brought water and food with him, and there was more food and firewood in the cabin where he waited.

“In this case, the hiker did the right thing and waited until it was safe to travel,” Rogers said.

“He had made a travel plan of his trip, notified friends when he would return and had adequate supplies to sustain himself.”

Being in good health, the man didn’t require medical attention when he returned.

The RCMP are also using the situation to remind all back country users to make sure they file a trip plan and carry proper equipment and supplies when they are heading into the back country.