Kamloops hiker missing for two nights recounts trying ordeal

Scraped up and disoriented from losing her glasses, Baird decided to stay put.

“Since I couldn’t distinguish anything I just figured I’m going to sit tight and hopefully within a day people will come out looking for me.”

By Tuesday Baird’s mother called her pastor, Gregory Vaal, asking if he knew where she was.

“I came up here and spotted her car parked up here,” Vaal said. “I wasn’t sure how long it had been there, if she had just come today or the day before. I took a look at it, there was a little film of dust on it, which was alarming, and also I felt under on the oil pan and it was really cold. So, that led me to believe that the car had probably been parked here since Monday.”

Search and Rescue teams were called out to scour the area by ground and air, and with dogs and drones.

Baird, who was not in an easily accessible area, says she felt God prompting her to move to a different location.

“He just impressed on me that even though I’m scared and nervous without my glasses that I should at least attempt to get to a better position than I was in,” Baird said. “It was quite secluded because of all the cliffs and then there was a lot of tree cover as well.”

Finally on Wednesday, Baird found her way back to the main road, where she flagged down a passing truck.

“The fellow that was driving the truck said, ‘hey, you’re the one they’re looking for,’” said Vaal. “He offered her a ride up front, she said, ‘no, I’m soaking wet, I’ll get your truck wet.” So, she climbed into the back of the box and he drove her the rest of the way to the command centre.”

Despite a harrowing two and a half days alone in the grasslands, Baird says she will go hiking again, but will take some extra precautions.

“I have learned that just knowing the safety rules is not enough, you actually have to follow them for a long hike, for a short hike, for any kind of hike,” Baird said. “Let someone know where you’re going to be with some detailed plans of your route, take along a very effective noisemaker, and just simply don’t go off on a route that you don’t know well.”

Both Baird and Vaal say they are extremely thankful for prayers, kind thoughts, and assistance in the search.

“I’m convinced that it’s nothing less than a huge miracle that I’m even here,” Baird said.

by Jill Sperling

Kamloops hiker missing for two nights recounts trying ordeal

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