It’s been more than 48 hours since a 65-year-old woman went missing in the North Shore mountains, as rescues crews continued to scour Cypress Mountain on Saturday.
Air air and ground search Friday found no trace of Debbie Blair, who was hiking on the mountain Thursday with friends when she became separated from her group.
West Vancouver police say she was last seen near Donut Rock Trail junction on the Cypress Mountain trail leading toward Eagle bluffs. A staging area has been set at the top of Cypress Bowl by members of the North Shore Search and Rescue Team and volunteers. On Friday and again Saturday, rescue crews used thermal imaging from a helicopter to search for the woman.
Searchers are concerned because temperatures hovered not far above freezing overnight. They say Blair was not prepared to spend the night outdoors and had left her coat and food in the car. They say she is likely wearing a short-sleeved shirt.
“We are very concerned for her well-being, and about her being exposed to the elements,” said NSSR leader Mike Danks, on Saturday morning by phone from the staging area. “It’s very cold up here.”
Danks said there was also heavy rain early Saturday morning. About 35 search and rescue members have set up a grid search near Dick Creek, where searchers found human tracks on Friday.
Danks said Blair had no backpack, light, map or cell phone with her when she went off the track. Danks said she had been travelling with a faster group of hikers, but had hurt her knee so she went to find the slower group to continue the journey. He believes while looking for the slower group, Blair hit a junction and went off trail.
Police describe Blair as a caucasian woman weighing about 130 pounds and about 5-feet-4. She has brown/grey hair and was possibly wearing a hat and white pants.
Anyone with information is asked to contact West Vancouver Police at 604-925-7300.
