A view of the Wapawekka Lake in the area where Northern Echo Lodge is located. Photo courtesy Northern Echo Lodge’s website
Two recent missing people reports related to mushroom picking have led the RCMP to remind people to prepare properly before heading out into the wilderness.
On Wednesday, two women who were picking mushrooms near Wapawekka Lake and did not return.
La Ronge RCMP and 14 local searchers conducted a ground search that stretched into the evening, but it took a Civil Air Search and Rescue (CASARA) search plane to spot them on the south-east shore of the lake.
Even after they were located, it wasn’t an easy task to get the women – who were in good health – home.
“A float plane was required to land on the lake in order to extract the females,” said RCMP spokeswoman Mandy Maier.
This isn’t the first report of missing mushroom pickers this summer; 78-year-old man Tony Olekas from Nipawin went last month after going out mushroom picking in the area of Big Sandy Lake. RCMP continue looking for him and search dogs were brought in on Wednesday.
In light of these two incidents, Maier says police have noticed an increase in mushroom and berry picking activity across northern Saskatchewan.
Maier said people heading into the bush should tell someone where they are going, and when they expect to return.
“We recognize some people are very knowledgeable and have extensive experience travelling in the wilderness with the necessary safety equipment. If you are out there don’t go into areas you are unfamiliar with, take someone that is knowledgeable with the area. It’s very easy to get turned around in these areas when you’re not familiar with them,” she said.
She added that people heading into the bush should tell someone where they are going, and when they expect to return. Sufficient survival supplies and proper clothing can come in handy if things don’t go as planned.