~Contributed by the RCMP
On January 5th, 2012 at approx. 6:30 pm a male was given a ride to the Prince Rupert detachment where police learned that the man left two friends stranded on Hays Mountain without proper clothing and no supplies.
Police notified Search & Rescue and while they responded from Terrace the local Police Dog Service team and a uniform member took supplies and hiked the mountain through unfavourable conditions. The worry was that with falling temperatures and wet snowy conditions on the mountain, the men would be in serious need of medical attention. Cst Martin and his police service dog Asta are credited with locating the stranded hikers and returning them safely down the mountain to waiting emergency medical personnel. The men were checked over and found to be cold and wet but in overall good condition.
Police want to remind people venturing out into the back country in the winter to please prepare for the worst as conditions are unpredictable and can change extremely fast.