The search is on for Nick Hoefnagels who went missing in the East Kootenay over the weekend along with another man from the area.
Search and rescue teams are combing the area between Whitetail Lake and Canal Flats, B.C. for any sign of the pair.
RCMP say Albertan Nicholas Hoefnagels and Stephen Thomson from Canal Flats were reported missing about 2:30 a.m. on Sunday.
The men, aged 18 and 21, were camping at the lake, and reportedly went into town, about 25 kilometers away, to pick up some dirt bikes. They were last seen at 3:00 p.m. on Saturday.
Search crews say that there are a lot of dirt roads in the area and that the terrain can be extremely challenging.
“On the one hand it’s quite large. There’s some pretty incredible terrain in there and we have a very deep river in there as well. So we’ve got air search and rescue, searching for us right now. We’ve got Invermere Search and Rescue, Kimberley Search and Rescue and Cranbrook Search and Rescue out combing the roads and looking for any clues whatsoever,” said Wendy Hetherington, Search manager.
Police say a spot was located at about noon on Monday, along the Findlay Creek Forest Service Road and it appeared that a vehicle had left the road and rolled down an embankment and into the creek.
Search teams are concentrating their efforts in the area and say some personal items were found that belong to the men.
The RCMP dive team is now involved but the high water level and reduced visibility is making it difficult to conduct a search.
The pair was last seen driving a red, Chevy pick up, with mag tires, a low profile, a regular cab, and Alberta licence plates.
RCMP have a helicopter in the air and are supporting the ground team to search the area along the creek.
Police say that friends and family of the pair have gathered at the search site and are being assisted by Victim Services.
Police are asking anyone in the region who spots the men or their truck to call 911.
(With files from Kimberly Davidson)
