A Norwegian trekker, 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.
He didn’t show up, but one of his dogs did.
Manitoba RCMP say contact was made with him on Aug. 13, when he arrived at Nanuk camp — about 40 kilometres east of York Factory — and stated that he had lost one of his dogs on the journey.
The man made contact with York Factory on Aug. 14, stating his expected time of arrival there would be on the 15th, said RCMP spokesperson Sgt. Paul Manaigre.
“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,” Manaigre told CBC News on Monday.
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.
The missing man is an experienced Norwegian wilderness traveller, according to information supplied to police, but Manaigre said the terrain and wildlife in the area where he was travelling is known to be extremely treacherous.
“The detachment commander has spoken to people in that area, and in his words, he was saying realistically there’s only several people in the world that could probably make that trek, just due to how dangerous it is,” Manaigre said.
“It’s just not for someone to go up and go for a hike.”
‘This search has to be done by experts’
Manaigre said the ground in the area is boggy and so soft at points that people would often sink to their knees or waist while trying to travel on it.
The area along the Hudson Bay shoreline is also known to be populated by polar bears and wolves, and to have fluctuating water levels because of the tide coming in and going out from Hudson Bay, he said.
Manaigre said search and rescue efforts will be difficult.
“I guess the main thing here is due to this terrain being extremely difficult, this search has to be done by experts,” he said.
“That’s usually people who are familiar with that area.”
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 added.
The Canadian Rangers and 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.
As well, an RCMP officer from Gillam will be going with a drone to provide aerial coverage.
Due to the terrain, Manaigre said much of the search will be done via aircraft, boats and drones.
“The resources are up in that area … for the next couple of days, doing what they can,” he said.
“I would hope we’ll have some updates within the next day or two.”
Norwegian hiker Steffen Skjottelvik was supposed to be traveling with his two dogs from the southern end of Hudson Bay all the way to Alaska. But when one dog showed up alone at the next northern Manitoba checkpoint, and the hiker missed his arrival date, worry set in. Now a search is underway to find him.
