Two hikers were found dead in separate areas of Banff National Park last week, according to Alberta RCMP.
One was a 24-year-old man from Jasper whose satellite tracker stopped moving near Recondite Peak. The other was a 33-year-old Calgary man who became separated from friends near Beehive Mountain.
Their names have not been released.
Jasper hiking guide found near Recondite Peak
The Jasper man began his trip Monday.
His family reported him missing Wednesday afternoon after noticing that his satellite tracker had stopped moving.
A Parks Canada helicopter crew found him dead later that day near Recondite Peak, a remote area that sees very few visitors. He was found with climbing equipment and a helmet.
RCMP Sgt. Susan Richter said the man was an experienced hiker who worked as a guide but was off duty at the time.
"Parks Canada shared with me that Recondite Peak is very remote and only accessed by approximately 10 people a year," Richter said.
Police have not said how he died.
Calgary man became separated from friends
The second man was found near Beehive Mountain on Saturday.
He had been hiking with friends when the group lost sight of him. His friends initially believed he had moved ahead because he was hiking faster.
"They lost sight of him, and thought that they were just hiking at different paces and that they would meet up with him at the end because he was faster," Richter said.
"When he wasn't there, they attempted to reach him and were not able to, and they reported him missing."
The 33-year-old was later found dead. RCMP have not released his cause of death.
The danger of becoming separated
The circumstances of the Calgary man's death are a reminder that a widening gap between hikers shouldn't automatically be dismissed as a difference in pace.
In July, a 65-year-old Calgary man died after becoming separated from his group and falling while scrambling on Mount Temple in Banff National Park.
Parks Canada advises people hiking in Banff to travel with others and keep their group together. It also recommends carrying a satellite emergency communication device, leaving a trip plan with someone reliable, and preparing to survive overnight if necessary.
Groups should agree in advance on specific places to stop and regroup rather than assuming everyone will meet at the end of the trail.
What the satellite tracker provided
The Jasper man's tracker did not prevent the fatal incident, but its location information alerted his family that something might be wrong.
After the device stopped moving, his family contacted authorities and a Parks Canada crew located him that afternoon.
Satellite communicators can send location information and emergency messages in areas without reliable cellular coverage. Parks Canada recommends carrying one in Banff's backcountry and knowing how to use it.
Hikers should also leave someone their planned route, expected return time and instructions about whom to contact if they don't return.
Several recent deaths in the mountain parks
The two Banff deaths follow several fatal incidents in Alberta's mountain parks this summer.
In July, the 65-year-old Calgary man died following a fall on Mount Temple. Days earlier, a 26-year-old woman died after falling during a hike in Kananaskis Country.
Another person died in a Kananaskis drowning in August.
Last year, two people died and 10 were injured in a rock slide near Banff's Bow Glacier Falls Trail. The trail reopened this summer with warning signs encouraging hikers to stay away from hazardous areas at the end of it.
Richter said deaths in Alberta's backcountry are not uncommon during the summer and can result from falls, avalanches, sudden weather changes and other hazards.
Experience and equipment reduce risk but don't eliminate it. The Jasper man was an experienced guide who had climbing equipment, a helmet and a satellite tracker.
Calling for help in Banff National Park
For an emergency using a cellphone, Parks Canada directs visitors to call 911 and tell the dispatcher that assistance is needed in Banff National Park.
When using a satellite phone in the backcountry, call Banff Dispatch at 403-762-4506. Parks Canada warns that calling 911 from a satellite phone may not be reliable.
Cellular coverage is unavailable in many parts of the park.
Sources
Alberta RCMP
Parks Canada, Banff National Park emergency contacts
Parks Canada, Banff hiking guidance
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