British honeymooners who set out to explore northern B.C.'s backcountry are now the subject of a police investigation after they failed to return back to Vancouver on July 4.
Ben and Caroline Davies, both experienced outdoors people who wed in England in early June, planned to drive north toward Alaska to do some backcountry camping, then return to extended family in Vancouver.
According to RCMP Sgt. Rob Vermeulen, the family last heard from Caroline, 28, and Ben, 37, on June 22 when they called from Smithers and said they planned to rent kayaks and meet up with someone they met in the area. But by July 10 there was no word from the couple -who had a good record of keeping in touch before June 22 -and concerned family members called the RCMP.
Vermeulen said Mounties began their search of the Smithers area Monday to begin piecing together a possible direction of travel. The couple were driving a borrowed 2008 black Mazda B230 pickup truck with a white camper top and B.C. licence plate AL 6943.
He also said that the couple's vehicle is "key" to the probe.
"We're going to concentrate the search that way," he said. "We'll try and track down and follow sightings. We want to try and locate the truck."
Investigators will begin checking restaurants, gas stations and anywhere else where the couple may have visited once a more concrete "pattern of travel" is established, he said.
RCMP investigators have received a number of tips in Smithers, 370 kilometres northwest of Prince George on Highway 16.
But Vermeulen said the search will be difficult, given the Davies' plan to adventure through the rugged backcountry north of Smithers.
"They weren't the type that went to the groomed campgrounds," he said. "They were looking for backcountry, so they could be anywhere."
Caroline is five feet, three inches tall and 120 pounds, with curly brown, shoulder-length hair and brown eyes. Ben is five feet, 11 inches, 210 pounds with short brown hair and an athletic build.
Anyone who may have seen the couple or their vehicle is asked to call Smithers RCMP at 250-847-3233.
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