Latest news with #SteffenSkjottelvik
CBC
18 hours ago
- CBC
Search continues for Norwegian trekker missing in northern Manitoba, but without crew from northern Ontario
A group from a northern Ontario First Nation paused their search for a missing Norwegian trekker in a remote part of northern Manitoba on Tuesday, citing mounting costs, while RCMP say they have their eyes on the fast-moving Hayes River. Steffen Skjottelvik, 29, never arrived at his destination of York Factory, Man., where he was expected after leaving on foot with his two dogs from Fort Severn, Ont., late last month. However, one of his dogs did show up in Fort Severn. The coastal land between the two, consisting of soggy muskeg, is home to polar bears and wolves. "People think that Steffen shouldn't have been doing that but we all make … mistakes and we're all human beings and that's what we look at it from," Fort Severn First Nation Chief Matthew Kakekaspan told CBC News on Tuesday. "He's a human being and he needs our help…. He's somebody's child." Kakekaspan said searchers from his community were forced to pull out Tuesday morning. In the 2½ days they searched, the group incurred $70,000 in helicopter rental costs, something they could not sustain any longer, said Kakekaspan. Skjottelvik aimed to travel from James Bay to Alaska, according to a Facebook page documenting the journey called Steffen's Great Canadian Journey. Left Fort Severn on July 25 Police have said Skjottelvik is considered an experienced wilderness traveller. RCMP and Kakekaspan have also said the terrain in the area, and the threat from wildlife, make his planned trek path dangerous. Skjottelvik left Fort Severn on foot on July 25 with his two dogs and was expected to arrive in York Factory last Friday — a 300-kilometre distance over a three-week timeline. He arrived in Nanuk camp, about 40 kilometres from York Factory, on Aug. 13 and said he had lost one of his dogs along the way, according to RCMP. Skjottelvik last touched base with a contact in York Factory on Aug. 14, saying he expected to arrive on Aug. 15. RCMP Sgt. Paul Manaigre previously said one of Skjottelvik's dogs may have been lost in an attack by wolves. But someone from Fort Severn has posted images on Facebook of a husky resembling one of Skjottelvik's dogs that wandered into that community on Monday. On Tuesday, Manaigre said the search thus far has been by boat, drone and helicopters because of the treacherous boggy terrain. He said on Tuesday the police force has one Mountie in the area presently. An RCMP officer flew a drone Monday night equipped with thermal imaging capabilities to look for hot spots that could be Skjottelvik, said Manaigre. Focus on Hayes River He said Manitoba Conservation is in the area with a helicopter conducting aerial searches to complement efforts by local searchers, including a man from Gillam, Man., who is familiar with the area and is searching by boat, and those from Fort Severn who have since left. Manaigre said on Tuesday there was a focus on the Hayes River, one of the fastest-flowing in Canada. "It's just an extremely hazardous river to cross and basically with all the rain coming everything is going into the bay right now so that current was extremely swift," said Manaigre. "It is highly suspected" that Skjottelvik may have tried to cross to an island that is about one kilometre out from the shoreline, and that island is about another kilometre or more from the other side of the river, said Manaigre. "If there's low waters you can technically navigate it by foot, but the tide does swing up and down … four metres," said Manaigre. "We actually had one of the searchers in hip waders today, tethered, trying to just see if he could walk in the river and he wasn't able to stand. It's just the current, it's just too strong." RCMP initially said the Canada Rangers were requested to attend, but they decided against it because "it was just too dangerous." "You need some very experienced people to be going through this terrain, it's basically muskeg bog…. It's almost up to your waist. It's just soft," Manaigre said. "We don't have a lot of resources up in play just due to the logistics involved," he said. "That's probably been the biggest challenge of this is just due to the remoteness, the dangers with polar bears and wolves." Kakekaspan said Skjottelvik's family back in Norway are trying to raise money, some of which would help Fort Severn cover the costs it has already incurred in the search. He also thinks RCMP have not responded with sufficient resources quickly enough based on the harsh terrain and urgent nature of the search for Skjottelvik.
CBC
18 hours ago
- CBC
Norwegian man on 'Great Canadian Journey' missing in northern Manitoba
An all-out search is underway for a Norwegian trekker who went missing in northern Manitoba. Steffen Skjottelvik, 29, left Fort Severn, Ont., on foot on July 25 with his two dogs and intended to arrive in York Factory, Man., — a distance of more than 300 kilometres — on Aug. 15. He didn't show up, but one of his dogs did.
CTV News
21 hours ago
- CTV News
Thousands raised for search for Norwegian hiker missing in northern Manitoba
A community-lead fundraiser to fuel the search for a Norweigan hiker who went missing in northern Manitoba has raised tens of thousands of dollars, while police and civilians continue to scour the challenging terrain for the missing man. Gillam RCMP say Steffen Skjottelvik, 29, left Fort Severn, Ont. on July 25 on foot with two dogs. He was reported missing Friday after he didn't turn up in York Factory, Man. as planned, Mounties said. A number of people in Fort Severn who knew Skjottelvik began searching for him Friday with help from a helicopter provided by Fort Severn First Nation, organizers told CTV News. However, fuel quickly began running low and more was needed to keep the search going. 'I started making phone calls,' said David Matthews, one of the fundraisers. 'I had never asked for donations before, but we need to get this done. We have to find this young man. We can't stop the search. We just have to keep going.' As of Tuesday afternoon, about $40,000 had been raised to keep their search going, with another trip to the area where Skjottelvik is believed to have been travelling planned for Wednesday. Steffen Skjottelvik Steffen Skjottelvik is shown in an undated photo. (Steffen Skjottelvik/Facebook) Young hiker planned to trek to Alaska A Facebook group created to track Skjottelvik's travels says he had planned on trekking from James Bay, Ont. all the way to Alaska. On the latest leg of his journey, police say Skjottelvik would have had to cross six or seven rivers by foot while also fending off local wildlife including wolves and polar bears. The nearby Hayes River is reported to be one of the fastest moving rivers in the country, said Manitoba RCMP spokesperson Sgt. Paul Manaigre. Skjottelvik made contact during his trip on Aug. 13 when he arrived at Nanuk camp, which is about 40 kilometres northeast of York Factory. According to police, he lost one of his dogs on the journey, though it is not yet clear how. He next made contact with York Factory on Aug. 14, saying he expected to arrive there the next day. Skjottelvik did not turn up, but a dog believed to be his later arrived in the community. Police say Manitoba conservation officers flew up Monday to help in the search. A guide from Gillam, Man. who is 'very familiar' with the area also went up by boat that day. A Gillam RCMP officer also joined the search with a drone to provide aerial coverage. They used the drone's thermal imagery Monday night on Hayes River to find any sign of Skjottelvik. Boat and helicopter patrols were also made up and down the river, as well, with no success, Mounties said. 'Due to the extreme challenges of this area, most of the searching will be done via aircraft, boats and drones,' Sgt. Manaigre told CTV News in an email. 'The local guides and those heading up are extremely well versed in the local terrain and the dangers that exist in this area which include polar bears and wolves.' Matthews said the terrain where Skjottelvik is believed to be is made up of soft bog, thick willows and bush, as well as sticky, thick mud flats. He said searchers are still optimistic the young hiker will be found. 'Everybody's worried about him. Everybody's praying, and it's amazing how people all over the world are connecting and helping out.' - With files from CTV's Kayla Rosen and the Canadian Press
Toronto Star
a day ago
- Toronto Star
Locals, police searching remote Manitoba wilderness for Norwegian trekker
YORK FACTORY - The search continues for a Norwegian trekker who disappeared last week in the treacherous muskeg and swift moving rivers of northern Manitoba while on a cross-continental journey of the Canadian wilderness. Manitoba RCMP say officers in Gillam were contacted on Friday after Steffen Skjottelvik failed to arrive in York Factory, 850 kilometres northeast of Winnipeg.
CTV News
a day ago
- CTV News
Air, ground and water search underway in northern Manitoba for missing Norwegian hiker
Boats, drones, and aircraft are combing the northern Manitoba wilderness searching for a missing Norwegian hiker whose dog arrived at his destination without him. Gillam RCMP told CTV News 29-year-old Steffen Skjottelvik was reported missing on Friday after he didn't turn up in York Factory, Man. as planned. Police say the experienced Norwegian wilderness traveller left Fort Severn, Ont. on July 25 on foot with two dogs. Contact was made with him on Aug. 13 when he arrived at Nanuk camp, which is about 40 kilometres east of York Factory. According to police, he lost one of his dogs on the journey. Mounties say he next made contact with York Factory on Aug. 14, saying he expected to arrive there the next day. Steffen Skjottelvik Steffen Skjottelvik is shown in a 2023 photo. (Steffen Skjottelvik/Facebook) When he did not turn up, local guides used a helicopter to search the area. Meanwhile, one of the dogs believed to belong to Skjottelvik has since arrived in York Factory. Manitoba conservation officers flew up Monday to aid in the search, police said. A guide from Gillam, Man. who is 'very familiar' with the area also went up by boat that day. A Gillam RCMP officer also joined the search with a drone to provide aerial coverage. They also planned to use the drone on Monday night to capture thermal imagery on Hayes River to find any sign of Skjottelvik. Boat and helicopter patrols have been made up and down the river, as well, with no success. 'Due to the extreme challenges of this area, most of the searching will be done via aircraft, boats and drones,' Manitoba RCMP spokesperson Sgt. Paul Manaigre told CTV News in an email. 'The local guides and those heading up are extremely well versed in the local terrain and the dangers that exist in this area which include polar bears and wolves. - With files from CTV's Kayla Rosen
