A mushroom picker rescued after getting lost in the B.C. Interior is likely the first of many such calls in what is expected to be a busy mushroom picking season, said Kamloops Search and Rescue.
The out-of-province man was reported missing around noon Saturday in the area of Loon Lake, about 130 kilometres northwest of Kamloops.
Kamloops Search and Rescue responded to the call and were joined by volunteers from other SAR teams, including the South Cariboo and Nicola Valley, Barriere, Logan Lake, Wells Gray and Central Cariboo. A drone team and police dog services also assisted in the search.
The canine unit located the mushroom picker at 7 a.m. Sunday.
“He was tired and hungry and thirsty and dirty, but he was able to walk out on his own,” said Jenn Stahn of Kamloops Search and Rescue.
The search and rescue team is concerned this is but the first of many calls for missing mushroom pickers this year as many pickers are expected to flock to B.C. following the wildfires that ripped through the area last year.
“The mushrooms do really well after a wildfire,” said Stahn. “We will get people from all over the province, even North America, coming to B.C.”
Stahn said foragers should research the area they plan to forage and make sure they have ways to communicate such as bringing a fully charged cellphone or a satellite phone as many areas are not covered by cellphone service.
Foragers should also let someone know their trip plan and when they expect to be back.
Stahn said that might pose a challenge as many foragers like to keep their spots secret, but “we want them to find somebody they can trust and tell them,” she said.
“That will save a lot of time when someone gets lost. If they are in trouble, that means help would come to them sooner.”
