BANFF – A 42-year-old hiker who has been missing since Wednesday evening has been found alive and well after two full days of search efforts involving police, dogs and search and rescue teams.
Banff RCMP confirmed in an email at 4:45 p.m. on Friday that Chad Singer had been located safe.
"He has been found alive and well and is coming home tonight," said Erin Singer, who is Chad's sister-in-law, noting she has no further details at this point.
"We're beyond excited, thrilled, relieved, emotional."
Singer, a resident of Radium, B.C., began his hike near the Aurora Creek trail, located east of Radium Hot Springs, B.C., on July 23, and was last seen about 2 p.m. near Marvel Lake in Banff National Park that day.
The search was extensive because the trail system can connect to trails near Marvel Lake and the trail network between Sunshine Mountain, Banff and Mount Shark in Kananaskis Country.
Family had said it was important to find Singer quickly because he is diabetic.
Helicopters, dog teams and drones were deployed to help the extensive crew on the ground try to find him. Trail cameras had even been set up in some areas.
Parks Canada's elite search and rescue team was called out Thursday night as darkness approached, with the search over the coming days involving ground, aerial, and drone operations.
Kelly Veillette, a public relations and communications officer in Banff National Park, said that Parks Canada, in coordination with Columbia Valley Search and Rescue, the RCMP, and Kananaskis Mountain Rescue, successfully located Singer who was in "stable, non-life-threatening condition."
"Parks Canada are grateful to all partners involved in this coordinated search and rescue effort and appreciate the time and effort that lead to this successful outcome," she said in an email.
Nasty weather on the way Friday afternoon looked set to hamper search efforts, but Singer was found and was being taken to Invermere, B.C
Singer became separated from his hiking partner near Penny’s Peak around on July 23 and did not return to their meeting point at Aurora Lake.
Ground search efforts began around 8 p.m. that evening.
"RCMP thanks everyone for their assistance in this investigation," said Cpl. Gina Slaney, public information officer for the RCMP.
