Search-and-rescue crews continue to comb through the central Alberta wilderness, looking for man described as a veteran outdoorsman who has gone missing while hunting.
Timothy Benedict Campbell, 33, of Calgary, disappeared Saturday morning while hunting with his son and friend in the Williams Creek area.
The search continued Monday, with more than 20 search-and-rescue specialists filling a ranch yard with mud-covered trucks. The officials used drones, a police helicopter and ATVs, and conducted a search by foot.
Search officials confirm they discovered a rifle in the search area but cannot confirm that it belongs to Campbell.
‘Rugged landscape’
The drones have been necessary due to the thick woods and difficult terrain, said Clearwater Regional Fire Rescue Chief Steve Debienne, whose team drove more than an hour from Rocky Mountain House to help with the search.
“We’re looking at quite a rugged landscape With the melting conditions, the roads in and out of the area are extremely muddy and some of them are impassable,” Debienne said. “We’re into the mountainous terrain.”
Search and rescue crews are combing the Williams Creek area west of Sundre, Alta. (Dave Gilson/CBC)
The drones have helped crews get a closer look through the thick tree canopy, he said. So far, it appears the area, though challenging, has long been popular with hunters.
“Like any mountainous area, it’s kind of an outdoor enthusiast playground,” Debienne said.
Family searches, too
Campbell’s family members were also at the site Monday, searching the woods for their loved one, separate from the official effort. They drove their vehicles along the back roads, trying to spot him.
His family said they continue to hope for the best and will continue to look for him.
They described Campbell as a veteran outdoorsman who knows the area, which includes rolling hills and thick forest, and said he was properly dressed for the elements.
Police said that on Saturday, Campbell stepped off the path to follow animal tracks. He did not rejoin his son and friend, who contacted police when they couldn’t find him.
Campbell, an experienced Indigenous hunter, is six feet tall and 161 pounds. He was last seen wearing blue jeans and a Carhartt jacket.
Sundre and Rocky Mountain House Search and Rescue, RCMP air services and police dog services, and Clearwater Fire Rescue are involved in the official search.
The search will be put on hold at dark and will resume Tuesday morning.