Update, June 29 at 10:30 p.m.: The teen girl has been found alive, Ridge Meadows Search and Rescue team manager Ryan Smith confirms with Glacier Media.
Update, June 29 at 8:30 a.m.: The search for a missing 16-year-old girl who vanished while hiking in Golden Ears Park continues on Thursday.
Esther Wang has now been missing for over 40 hours. Read the updated article here.
June 28:
A 16-year-old Langley girl has gone missing during a hike at one of B.C.'s largest parks.
Esther Wang, 16, was hiking with three other people Tuesday at Golden Ears Park as part of a youth activity when she went missing.
Search and rescue crews have been searching through the night Tuesday. A police drone is being used to scour the area.
Ridge Meadows RCMP says the group was hiking on the East Canyon Trail to Steve’s Lookout when she disappeared.
"The group left the lookout at approximately 2:45 p.m. to head back to their campground,” says Cpl. Julie Klaussner.
After 15 minutes, the group leader noticed that Wang was not with them.
The group returned to the top of the viewpoint in an attempt to locate Wang; however, they were unsuccessful.
Klaussner says the leader headed to the entrance of the trail to notify a park ranger and police.
Police believe Wang is carrying a cellphone, but due to the remote area and lack of cell reception, pings have been negative.
Wang is described as an Asian female, five-foot-three with a slim build and long black hair. She was wearing black leggings, a black jacket and a navy blue baseball hat. She was carrying a blue, red and white backpack.
The group leader told police that Wang was carrying water and has food.
Area can be treacherous, steep terrain
Ridge Meadows Search and Rescue (RMSAR) team manager Ryan Smith confirms that its volunteers are the lead on the search for Wang.
"RMSAR is being supported by neighbouring search and rescue teams as well as partner agencies in the search,” says Smith.
As of Wednesday afternoon, members are “actively conducting a search in the Golden Ears Park.”
The search area terrain is mountainous and forested.
“The area is used for recreational hiking. Areas off the hiking trails can be treacherous with steep terrain and thick vegetation,” says Smith.
Klaussner says there are 45 different 'resources' in the area searching for Wang on Wednesday. This includes rescue agencies from all over the Lower Mainland including Mission, Coquitlam and Central Fraser Valley.
"The helicopter is currently deployed. Talon Helicopters is out and they're assisting with supporting to send the boots to the ground and resources up to the area to help assisting with the search efforts,” says Klaussner.
Crews have indicated they will be searching until dark on Wednesday night.
“They'll be continuing to assess how things are depending on how the day progresses,” she says.
As of Wednesday, police indicated all technology available is being utilized but there was no update on cellphone pings from Wang.
Family thanking crews for efforts
Wang’s family is located in British Columbia and is appreciative of the crews out searching for their daughter.
“They did want me to express their thanks and appreciation to all the search and rescue and the resources and the volunteers that have been helping with the search and there's been a lot of like influx to them from family support and friends support looking to offer resources to attend the site,” says Klaussner.
While the support is being offered, she notes that the SAR members are the professionals and ones conducting the search.
“We would hate for someone to go out there with the hope of helping only to become injured themselves,” she says.
Police are appealing to the public for help if someone saw her on Tuesday or has information that would help.
"If you were out hiking in the area or have any information about Esther that could assist with search efforts, please contact the Ridge Meadows RCMP at 604-463-6251,” says Klaussner.
