Alberta man rescued after being stranded overnight in Kananaskis Country

A sign marks the entrance to Kananaskis Country, Alta., Monday, June 2, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh

An Alberta man spent the night in the Kananaskis wilderness after his Jeep got stuck while off-roading this week.

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On Tuesday, Crowsnest Pass RCMP received a report of a missing 50-year-old man.

Officials were told he’d been off-roading in his Jeep near the Kananaskis Highway and didn’t return at the scheduled time.

Family members had last been in contact with the man earlier that afternoon.

The Southern Alberta Regional Search and Rescue Society (SAR) was dispatched to the scene that evening, but personnel did not locate the missing man.

The next day, SAR teams returned to the area and made contact with him.

Ground teams, armed with an “intimate knowledge of the area and the description provided by the male,” were soon able to find him.

Officials say the man’s vehicle had gotten stuck and he had tried to make his way out of the forest overnight.

The man was not hurt but was very cold.

RCMP say the situation is the perfect reminder of the changing seasons and the necessity of backcountry precautions.

“During the fall in Alberta, the situation in the wilderness can change rapidly. Sudden dips in temperature, unexpected snowfalls, and animal migrations can all lead to unexpected emergencies. Whether it’s a day hike in the foothills, a multi-day backpacking trip in the Rockies, or off-grid camping under the Prairie sky, the backcountry presents real risks that can escalate quickly without proper preparation,” RCMP said in a Thursday news release.

Police offer the following safety tips for those going into the backcountry:

• make a plan for your trip and let someone know where you’re going and when you’ll be back;
• monitor weather conditions as Alberta weather can change quickly and unexpectedly;
• prepare yourself by bringing along proper equipment, clothing and a first-aid kit;
• bring a map, compass or GPS device that can help you in an emergency if your cell phone doesn’t work; and
• understand your own limitations and don’t get into situations that are over your head.

RCMP say that if anyone is lost or injured in the wilderness, the best thing they can do is to stay where you are, make yourself visible and heard by anyone who could be out looking for you.