N.W.T. morel mushroom picker found safe after being reported overdue
Members of group had agreed to head to landmark if they became separated
A morel mushroom picker near Fort Providence, N.W.T., was found safe Thursday evening after their friends reported the person overdue to police.
Fort Providence RCMP say the group of morel harvesters had made plans to walk to a nearby communications tower in the event that they became lost or separated, as the beacon would be visible to members of the group from a distance away.
The overdue mushroom picker walked to the tower and was reunited with their group. No injuries were reported to police.
In a news release, RCMP said the incident was "a good example of the importance of planning for emergencies when spending time on the land."
This was not the first time this year a morel picker has gotten lost in the N.W.T. wilderness.
In May, a picker near Kakisa became lost in the bush for more than nine hours before finding the highway.
N.W.T. RCMP have put out a list of safety tips for mushroom harvesters, as much of the area has no cellphone service. They include carrying emergency supplies, a map and compass or GPS and travelling in groups.