Mapless, unprepared hikers plucked from B.C.'s Stein Valley after 18 days

The families called RCMP Aug. 8 to report the Salmon Arm man and Peachland woman overdue, even though they had no idea exactly where the Okanagan-area couple was hiking.

The Kamloops-based RCMP helicopter spotted one car belonging to the hikers at the trailhead to the Stein Valley, west of Lytton, while officers north of Whistler found a second car near Pemberton at a common ending point for a trek through rugged and remote Stein Valley Nlaka'pamux Heritage Park.

Pemberton Search and Rescue, Blackcomb Helicopters, the Vancouver-based RCMP helicopter and two RCMP police dogs and their handlers searched the 195 kilometre park on Saturday but driving rain and high winds curtailed those efforts.

A helicopter finally spotted the hikers on Aug. 10, lifting them to safety three days after they had run out of food and 18 days after they set out for the expected 10 day hike without a map or what police say was appropriate gear for the terrain or weather.