After rescuing two hikers from Queen Elizabeth II Wildlands Provincial Park in Minden Hills March 5, OPP reminded hikers this week that proper planning and emergency preparedness are crucial for safety when planning outdoor activities.
Haliburton Highlands station commander, Liane Spong, said that at about 4:19 p.m., they responded to a call from a man saying he and his wife were missing somewhere in park after they went for a hike.
“The caller continued dialing 911 with updates however the cell phone reception was very poor,” Spong said. “The officers immediately responded and began their search.”
She said an OPP helicopter located the two but could not land due to the terrain and conditions.
At that point, Spong said emergency response team members went in utilizing OPP snowmobiles. Due to a water crossing, the ERT members had to walk for approximately 1.2 km to locate the missing hikers.
The 62-year-olds were located in good health.
“Whether your activity is during the summer or winter, on land or water, anywhere in Ontario, proper planning and emergency preparedness is crucial for your safety when planning outdoor activities,” Spong said.
