LYTTON -- A six-day ground search has ended in the Stein Valley, west of the Fraser canyon community of Lytton, B.C., without locating an experienced, 55-year-old hiker.
Kamloops resident Darcy Brian Turner headed into the rugged Stein Valley park on June 4 for a vision quest, something he has done annually for the last five years.
RCMP Cpl. Dan Moskaluk says Turner was well-prepared for the journey, familiar with the terrain and physically fit.
Turner had arranged to be picked up on June 19 but missed the rendezvous, and Moskaluk says searchers worry he may be injured.
Two people reported seeing Turner as he hiked into the park and some footprints were found during the exhaustive search, but otherwise police say there has been no sign of him.
Off-trail ground searches were hampered by heavy snow, fallen trees, flooding, high water and steep terrain, but air and water searches are expected to continue over the coming days.
