|
UPDATE:The responses I have been getting from this web page have been inquires into the details of the voluntary search that took place in June 2006. Since the area is so massive people are inquiring how the voluntary search was conducted. Other inquires have been what kind of shape was Tom in, was he an experienced hunter and what has been done since 2006. Yes, Tom was an experienced hunter and he was in excellent shape, there was not too many people who could keep up with him in the mountains. When he was awarded this hunt he planned on taking 20 days to find his sheep. He packed 10 days of food with him and would return to his truck for the next 10 days if required. When Tom's truck was located his 10 days of food was found suggesting whatever happened to him happened in his first 10 days. He also talked to some friends about making some sort of a loop back to his truck. No one seems to know what loop this could be. Also on any hunt plans can change based on if he was tracking a sheep. Before his trip Tom called BC Parks in Dease Lake to ask them questions. He also contacted the local conservation officers to ask them some questions on the area he was planning on hunting. Hunting for sheep at Spatsizi was a hunt that Tom was very excited about doing and had wanted to do for years. The voluntary search that took place in late June 2006 started off with a problem of how to get the searchers into the Park. Early in the spring Ealue Lake Road leading to the trail head had been partly washed away. It was decided that all the search groups would be helicopter in to the areas they were to search. There were 7 groups made up of 3 - 7 people. One group even had a cadaver dog. The areas searched were Rams Creek, MacDonald Camp, Ice Box Canyon, Mt. Levis, Tahltan Trail, Eaglenest Trail and Ridge Trail. The groups searched their areas the best they could taking anywhere from 4 to 7 days. The groups had to endure horrible weather and lost days due to not being able to move. There has been a DVD made up of the searched areas from the photos taken by each group. In 2007 the Ealue Lake Road was completely washed away making it impossible to get to the park. This was the year that Tom's little girls were taken to the area. Unfortunately they were not able to fly over the park due to one child becoming ill during there stay at Tatogga. My Father and Aunt did fly into the park and checked out another area on the Waterfall Trail. This year, 2008, there will be another voluntary search taking place in early July. The area of focus is the Cartmel area. I am happy to report the Ealue Lake Road has been fixed and there is complete access to the trail head. I am hoping having this road fixed is the start of good luck and this will be the year that I find my husband. Please if you have any suggestions for me on where to search; do not hesitate to contact me. I am in need of any help I can get. Please email us:
tleonard@goldcity.net 
Tom Leonard failed to return from a fall hunting trip in Northwestern British Columbia at Spatsizi Plateau Provincial Wilderness Park. Tom signed in at the Eaglenest Trail Head on September 11, 2005 and continued on backpacking on his limited entry sheep hunt. When he failed to return home on October 2, 2005 RCMP conducted a search and located his truck at the base of the mountain at Eaglenest Trail. Search and rescue was called in and they conducted a search using aircraft and ground trackers but there was no trace of the missing man. Due to weather conditions the search was called off on October 8, 2005 and the family was reassured that a recovery operation would be conducted in the spring when weather conditions permitted.
In late June 2006, an extensive one week voluntary search was conducted by family and friends searching various areas of the park. Again poor weather hampered the search. In mid July 2006, an RCMP air search was conducted for 5 days but again failed to produce any answers. Tom's clothing was all camouflaged, including his backpack. He was packing a brown tent and quite a bit of gear. The family is asking anyone in the area to please report anything that is found, and the exact area it was found, to the RCMP immediately in Dease Lake at (250) 771-4111.
For further information, please email us:
tleonard@goldcity.net
Since this area is so massive and rugged, the family is in need of ANY help they can get to locate their loved one.
To repeat: Tom's clothing was all camouflaged, including his backpack. He was packing a brown tent and quite a bit of gear.
If you go into the area, please report anything that is found, and the exact area it was found, to the RCMP immediately in Dease Lake at (250) 771-4111. For further information, please email us:
tleonard@goldcity.net |
|
|
