Missing hiker found alive after more than 5 weeks in the wilderness enduring "incredibly challenging winter conditions"

A hiker who was reported missing in the backcountry of northeast British Columbia more than five weeks ago has been found alive. The Royal Canadian Mounted Police reported yesterday that 20-year-old Sam Benastick had been located alive despite over a month in the wilderness during which the area has seen snow and temperatures below -4 F (-20 C). "Two people were headed to the Redfern Lake trail for work, where they saw a man walking toward them.

When they approached the man, they recognized him as Sam Benastick," reports the RCMP. The men took Benastick to the hospital where he is recovering from his ordeal. Benastick tells police he stayed in his car for a couple of days and then walked to a creek where he says he camped for 10 - 15 days.

After that, he moved down the valley to a dried-out creek bed where he built a camp and shelter. "Finding Sam alive is the absolute best outcome. After all the time he was missing, it was feared that this would not be the outcome," says Cpl Madonna Saunderson, BC RCMP Communications.

Mike Reid, the general manager of the Buffalo Inn in Pink Mountain, B.C. where Benastick's family reportedly stayed during the search tells the CBC he has heard that the hiker is "in rough shape.

" He was reportedly walking with the help of his when he was found and had cut his and was wearing it wrapped around his legs to stay warm. On October 21, the RCMP reported that Benastick had been reported overdue after leaving for a hiking and fishing expedition in the.