A Norwegian hiker, who RCMP say lost one of his two dogs to a wolf attack, is missing in northern Manitoba and an all-out search is underway.
Steffen Skjottelvik, 29, left Fort Severn, Ont., on foot on July 25 with his two dogs and the intention to arrive in York Factory, Man., on Aug. 15 — a distance of more than 300 kilometres as the crow flies.
He didn’t show but one of his dogs did.
“Contact was made with him on Aug. 13 when he arrived at Nanuk camp [about 40 km east of York Factory] where he stated he had lost one of his dogs along the journey. On Aug. 14, he made contact with York Factory stating his expected time of arrival there would be on the 15th,” RCMP Sgt. Paul Manaigre said in an email to CBC News on Monday.
“One of the dogs, belonging to the missing traveller, made it to York Factory but another dog had been lost earlier in his trek due to a wolf attack.”
However, on Skjottelvik’s Facebook page, a woman from Fort Severn has posted images of a skinny Husky that wandered into the community on Monday. People there believe it’s the one Skjottelvik thought had been killed.
According to another Facebook page, Steffen’s Great Canadian Journey, Skjottelvik’s goal was to travel from James Bay all the way to Alaska.
He is an experienced Norwegian wilderness traveller, according to information supplied to police. But he is going through a very difficult and dangerous terrain along the Hudson Bay shoreline populated by polar bears and wolves, Manaigre noted.
A brief search has taken place involving local guides from the area. A helicopter from Fort Severn also attended to assist the local guides, Manaigre said.
Patrols by boat and helicopter have been made up and down the Hayes River with no success at this time, he said.
The Canadian Rangers and members from Manitoba Conservation are flying up Monday to join the search, Manaigre said. A guide from Gillam, who is very familiar with the area, will be heading up by boat to assist as well.
An RCMP officer from Gillam will also be going with a drone to provide aerial coverage.
“Due to the extreme challenges of this area, most of the searching will be done via aircraft, boats and drones,” Manaigre said.
