🚨 Missing Man in Northern Canada – Steffen Skjottelvik, 29, Backpack Found Along Hayes River
Authorities have located the backpack of a missing Norwegian wilderness hiker who embarked on a trek by foot in Canada last month.
The man — identified in media reports as Steffen Skjottelvik, 29 — departed Fort Severn in Ontario on July 25 on foot with his dogs and was scheduled to arrive in York Factory in Manitoba on Friday, Aug. 15, a Royal Canadian Mounted Police spokesperson shared with PEOPLE in an email on Thursday, Aug. 21.
“Contact was made with him on Aug 13 when he arrived at Nanuk camp where he stated he had lost one of his dogs along the journey,” the RCMP said. “On Aug 14, he made contact with York Factory stating his expected time of arrival there would be on the 15th. He believed he was about 20 kms [kilometers] away from York Factory.”
Skjottelvik, who was described by authorities as an experienced wilderness trekker, failed to show up at York Factory last Friday, and the RCMP were notified of his disappearance that evening.
The RCMP further added that a brief search took place involving local guides and a helicopter from Fort Severn. They said that a majority of the operation will employ aircraft, boats and drones, as the search area poses an extreme challenge.
“One of the dogs, belonging to the missing traveller, made it to York Factory but another dog had been lost earlier,” the RCMP said, noting that they could not currently verify reports that “the 2nd dog may have surfaced.”
Authorities said that Skjottelvik “may have tried to cross the Hayes River as he neared York Factory.”
The river, which is nearly two kilometers wide, has “an extremely fast current,” according to authorities, who said it “would not be possible” to cross the river “in its current conditions, due to heavy rain.”
The RCMP said they had been planning on using their drone on the river in the darkness as part of the search with the aid of thermal imagery. The RCMP spokesperson told PEOPLE on Thursday afternoon that Skjottelvik’s backpack was found on the shore of the Hayes River.
“We have not located him as of yet but the search is continuing,” the spokesperson said.
Meanwhile, Skjottelvik’s family have expressed gratitude for the support from authorities and the public in raising awareness about their missing loved one, the CBC reported.
“The family wants to underline the importance of the co-operation between the official side in Canada and also the private network … that is helping. They appreciate the support enormously,” family spokesperson Christian Dyresen told the outlet. Dyresen also said that authorities contacted the family to inform them that GPS coordinates from Skjottelvik’s equipment placed him near the river.
Lars Jorgen Sorensen, Skjottelvik’s uncle, told Norwegian news outlet Røyken og Hurums Avis that his nephew’s years-long dream was to cross Canada by foot, CBC reported. “He has prepared himself for this trip for many years. He got to know many people while walking. He also lived with them for longer periods, before moving along,” Sorensen said.
A GoFundMe has been created to raise money for the search and rescue efforts.
📌 Description
- Name: Steffen Skjottelvik
- Age: 29
- Nationality: Norwegian
- Journey: Trekking from Fort Severn (Ontario) to York Factory (Manitoba)
- Last Contact: August 14, 2025, near Hayes River
- Backpack Found: Along Hayes River shore
📞 How to Help
If you have any information regarding the whereabouts of Steffen Skjottelvik, please contact the RCMP immediately or call 911. Authorities advise the public not to approach hazardous areas of the Hayes River directly.
A GoFundMe page has been set up to help support ongoing search and rescue operations.
🔗 Sources
👉 What You Can Do
Please share this case widely to help raise awareness. Community support plays a vital role in missing person investigations, especially in remote areas.
🔎 Visit CanadaMissing.ca for more missing person cases across Canada.
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