ATIKOKAN, ON — An expedition to the interior of Quetico Provincial Park went off track over the weekend, resulting in a search by Ontario Provincial Police, the Ministry of Natural Resources and park staff.
As it turned out, the missing canoeist they were looking for turned up safely on his own.
Police, however, say the incident points to the need for adequate preparation and safeguards when entering Quetico's rugged and remote interior.
Two canoeing partners had separated after making arrangements to meet later at a scheduled rendezvous point.
On Saturday, one of the men had a chance encounter with a park staff member who was travelling in the park Saturday, and reported that his partner had failed to make the rendezvous.
An OPP helicopter was brought from Thunder Bay to assist in the search, but the missing man showed up on his own, in good health, Sunday morning.
According to a police spokesperson, the two canoeists had had different understandings of the location for their reunion, and each spent more than two days waiting for the other to show up at the expected destination.
Constable Jim Davis said the incident shows why it's important to be equipped with proper maps and survival gear when venturing into the wilderness
Davis also noted that it is often difficult for searchers to spot a person on the ground from an aircraft because of the forest canopy.
