What was supposed to be a one-hour walk through Forest for the World turned into a 7 1/2 hour ordeal for a local woman on Saturday.
She had intended to return to her vehicle at 5 p.m., RCMP said Tuesday, but by 7 p.m. was still unable to find her way back and called 911 on her cellphone after going to an open area near the trails on Cranbrook Hill.
By then, it was dark out and pouring rain in and around Prince George. With the help of an ATV and GPS coordinates, RCMP carried out a search but it was still another four-and-a-half hours from the time she called to the time she was located.
Prince George Search and Rescue was in the process of deploying searchers just as she was found. She was cold, wet and scared, but following an assessment by ambulance personnel, deemed to be otherwise fine and was released.
With the daylight hours decreasing and the weather getting colder, RCMP are asking walkers to take precautions even if going out for a stroll along the relatively tame local trails.
"Always bring extra clothes, matches, a flashlight, a first aid kit and water with you," RCMP said. "Ensure that someone knows your plans before you leave."
