Mishaps and Mysteries

A twin-engine plane vanished near Golden BC in 1968. Inside the Cessna Skyknight were three men, including a young pilot and two engineers. They were flying from Vancouver to Edmonton. But they never arrived.

A massive search began. It was one of the largest in Canadian history. Crews scanned 217,000 square kilometers of rugged peaks. However, harsh winter weather stopped the search. Decades passed with no answers. Families were left to wonder.

Then, in 2006, two climbers made a discovery. High in the Rockies, they spotted weathered metal. It was the wreckage of the plane vanished near Golden BC. The rugged terrain had hidden the crash site for 38 years.

In this episode, we explore the story of the plane vanished near Golden BC. We investigate the flight. We follow the search efforts. We also look at the long-awaited answers. Why did the flight fail? What legacy did the men leave behind? Join hosts Cassie and Nina for this tragic mystery.

You can listen on our platform. We investigate historical events in British Columbia. Want more wild stories? Read about the Callahan crash. Discover other unsolved mysteries in our archive. Check our episode list for new releases. Contact our team here to send us your thoughts.

Our podcast releases new episodes every Tuesday. Find us on your favorite app. Don't forget to subscribe. Please leave us a review. Be safe and never stop exploring!

Content warning: Brief discussion of death; no graphic details. No guests appear in this episode.

[00:00:48] - The 1968 flight disappears over the Rockies
[00:02:52] - Meet pilot Gary Fossilian and passengers Reginald Thurber and Harvey Deshaw
[00:05:23] - Search phases, radar clues, and the last known location
[00:08:14] - The extensive search and the families left waiting
[00:11:07] - A false lead, then a 2006 discovery near Robinson Peaks
[00:14:01] - The families visit the site and honor Reginald’s legacy
[00:16:34] - Possible causes of the crash—and what remains unknown
[00:18:14] - An update on reporting tips and a related episode

• Mishaps and Mysteries

• Thurber Engineering

• Rogers Pass National Historic Site

• Canadian Crime Stoppers

• Contact the hosts: [email protected]

The wreckage was found high above Waitabit Creek, near the headwaters, after climbers spotted it in 2006. The discovery confirmed the fate of the three men, but the cause of the crash remains uncertain; possible explanations discussed include frozen fuel lines, turbulence, mechanical problems, or hypoxia.

For another backcountry aviation mystery, listen to episode five, Clues of the Callahan Crash. New episodes arrive every Tuesday. If you enjoyed this story, subscribe, leave a rating and review, and share it with someone who loves mysteries of the wild.

Lynne Carmody and Rick Moynan share their gripping Cathedral Provincial Park survival story. A simple day hike quickly turned into a week-long fight for life in the southern BC wilderness.

The couple had almost no supplies or gear. Even so, calm thinking and teamwork kept them alive. They built shelter, rationed scraps of food, and endured freezing mountain nights. Search helicopters flew right past without spotting them.

This Cathedral Provincial Park survival account offers a powerful look at human resilience. It also highlights the tireless efforts of local search-and-rescue teams.

[00:01:53] - How Lynne and Rick came to Cathedral Lakes Lodge
[00:03:05] - The hike, a wrong turn, and realizing they were lost
[00:05:00] - What they had with them—and their first night outdoors
[00:08:05] - Finding a safer place to shelter and staying focused
[00:11:51] - Making a small food supply last and keeping hydrated
[00:15:06] - Watching the search and deciding when to walk out
[00:19:03] - The pink underwear signal and the helicopter that passed by
[00:23:42] - The search-and-rescue effort and meeting search manager Paul Barry
[00:27:31] - Walking out, reuniting with family, and learning the search’s impact
[00:38:58] - Backcountry safety advice: be prepared and stay on the trail
[00:41:06] - How the experience shaped their relationship and future adventures

Cathedral Provincial Park – BC Parks
Cathedral Lakes Lodge
AdventureSmart – Outdoor safety resources
BC Search and Rescue Association
Contact Mishaps and Mysteries

Lynneand Rick’s story is a reminder to prepare for changing conditions even on a short hike: carry essential safety gear, tell someone where you’re going, and stay on the trail. If you become lost, pause, assess your situation, and make deliberate decisions rather than letting panic take over.

Their week in the mountains was frightening for their family and the many volunteer searchers who worked to find them. It also strengthened their relationship—and didn’t stop them from exploring, this time better prepared.

On an October night in 1981, a Prince George woman was out on the town. 

In the middle of the night she gets a cab to the intersection of two highways. She tells the cabby she's going to hitch hike to Alberta. 

One of those highways… is called the Highway of Tears. 

And that was the last time Jean Mary Kovacs was ever seen alive. 

Of Particular Interest:

Highway of Tears | Wikipedia 

Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women | Wikipedia 

Sources:

B.C.’s infamous ‘Highway of Tears’ in 2006 | CBC Archives 

City Girl’s Killer Given Life Term | Prince George Citizen 

Third City Murder Admitted | Prince George Citizen 

BC Highway of Tears Study Polls Hitchhiker’s Habits | CBC News 

Titles irretrievable at the time of creating the show notes due to an error with the Prince George Citizen archives page. We’ll update with titles when they become available again. Links: 

http://pgnewspapers.pgpl.ca/fedora/repository/pgc:1985-10-12-05 

http://pgnewspapers.pgpl.ca/fedora/repository/pgc:1986-02-10-01 

http://pgnewspapers.pgpl.ca/fedora/repository/pgc:1986-08-12/-/Prince%20George%20Citizen%20-%20August%2012,%201986 

http://pgnewspapers.pgpl.ca/fedora/repository/pgc:1988-02-06-01

http://pgnewspapers.pgpl.ca/fedora/repository/pgc:1989-03-20/ 

Searchers: Highway of Tears | VICE 

What Really Happened on the Highway of Tears? | Northern Nightmares 

Highway of Tears | Wikipedia 

Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women | Wikipedia 

Edward Dennis Isaac | Wikipedia 

Missing and Murdered Indigenous Woman | Criminal 

In the damp, decaying undergrowth of the forest, moisture breeds life in the darkness and fungi thrive. Seemingly overnight they appear, while in the same places, a human can just as suddenly disappear. 

This episode takes listeners to five different places in BC where mushroom picking went wrong.

CONTENT WARNING: The episode will have brief discussions of death and human remains. Please take care when listening. 

Sources:

Case Dossier: Jacqueline “Jackie” Bob

Anyone with information about Jackie's disappearance is urged to contact: 

The RCMP - E Division North District Major Crime Unit 250-649-3900

You can reference Case#: 2005E-1341

Still No Sign of Missing Woman | CBC News 

Six-Year Search for Jackie Bob | Prince George Citizen

Jacki Bob Post | Missing People of Canada Unsolved Cold Cases - Facebook 

Missing Father and Son Found Deceased in Pemberton Backcountry | North Shore News 

Father, Son Found Dead After Weeklong Search Near Pemberton | CBC News 

Hypothermia Cause of Death in Pemberton Mushroom-Picking Outing: Coroner | Vancouver Sun

Coroner Concludes Lil’wat Mushroom Pickers Likely Died from Cold Exposure | Pique News Magazine 

If you have any information about Valentina please call the Chilliwack RCMP at 604-792-4611.

Case number: (2019-43930)

SAR Crews Looking for 82-Year-Old Mushroom Picker South of Cultus Lake | Agassiz Harrison Observer 

Vanished into the Wilderness: Answers Wanted on 4 B.C. Missing Hiker Cold Cases | Creston Valley Advance 

Chilliwack Search and Rescue and RCMP Seek to Locate Missing 82-year-old Woman from Columbia Valley | The Georgia Strait 

Opinion: Hope Remains Even in the Darkest Moments | The Chilliwack Progress 

MISSING: Valentina Kushnareva - Missing in Columbia Valley/Cultus Lake | Facebook Group 

Case Dossier with rendering of the Doe’s appearance: 2014001115 (John Doe)  

If you have any information. Please contact the Office of the Chief Coroner 1-877-660-5077 or [email protected] and reference Case #: 1992-0112-0057

Unidentified Wiki Parksville John Doe | Fandom 

Unidentified Bodies in British Columbia | R/Gratefuldoe -  Reddit 

Case Dossier: Gregory Paul Agnew 

Anyone with information on this case is asked to contact the Lisims-Nass Valley RCMP at 250 633 2222 and reference Case # 2019-1033

Search Called Off for Missing Mushroom Picker in the Nass Valley | Terrace Standard 

Of Interest:

To report a found item: 

• Find the local RCMP email for missing persons. 

• In the body of the email please provide the following details:

  •  A description of the found item

  • Why you believe the item may be associated to one of these missing people 

  • Specific location where item was found, GPS coordinates preferred but map pin will work

  • When item was found

  • What you did with item (left in place or took it with you)

  • Name

  • Phone Number

  • Address (Optional)

Mushroom Picking in BC: 

https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/industry/crown-land-water/crown-land/crown-land-uses/mushroom-picking

https://www.orcbc.ca/blog/mushroom-foraging

Other:

• BC Crime Stoppers — submit information anonymously

• AdventureSmart — outdoor trip-planning and safety resources

Close yet so far. There, but in the wrong place entirely. Imagine you're lost, you know there's searchers close by, but the brush is just too thick that rescue feels so elusive. 

Close yet so far. There, but in the wrong place entirely. Imagine you're lost, you know there's searchers close by, but the brush is just too thick that rescue feels so elusive.

This is the story of Esther Wang’s survival in Golden Ears Provincial Park in 2023. 

Of Particular Interest:

Adventure Smart 

Sources:

B.C. Teen Says Cadet Training and Faith Helped Her Survive 54 Hours Alone in Wilderness | CBC News

Crews Searching for Missing Teenager at Golden Ears Provincial Park | CBC News 

‘Determined’ Teen Hiker Praised for Preparedness After Being Missing for Over 50 Hours in Metro Vancouver Park | CBC News 

Teen Hiker Esther Wang Speaks Out After Being Lost in the Woods for Over Two Days | Global News 

TV Show

“Interstellar Voyage” Season 1, Episode 5 - Out There: Crimes of the Paranormal | IMDB 

16 Year Old Hiker Still Missing in Golden Ears Park | CBC British Columbia 

Missing Hiker Found After Over 50 Hour Search in Metro Vancouver Park | CBC British Columbia 

Teen Hiker Missing in Golden Ears Provincial Park Emerges From Forest After 54 Hour Search | City News 

Missing Teen Survives 50 Hours in BC’s Golden Ears Park: “She’s Healthy, She’s Happy” | Global News 

Missing Teen Esther Wang Walks Out of Woods To Family, No Injuries | Castanet News

Golden Ears Park | BC Parks

East Canyon Trail | All Trails 

Missing Teen in BC Provincial Park Found Safe | Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award 

Granger Taylor, with all his talk of alien abduction, had disappeared after the “storm of the century” hit the Duncan Area. What followed his disappearance, and what are the theories on what happened to him? 

Of Particular Interest:

Advertising for Love | Smithsonian Magazine

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/blogs/national-museum-american-history/2026/02/12/`advertising-for-love/

Have We Found Alien Life? Hundreds of Scientists Weigh In | Science Daily

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260909005212.htm

Sources:

News Articles

What Happened to Granger Taylor? | Times Colonist

UFO Encounter at Duncan Hospital Depicted on Canadian Coin | Times Colonist

The Man Who Went to Space and Disappeared | Vice

VIDEO: ‘Spaceman’, The Story of Duncan’s Granger Taylor, Premieres on CBC on Friday, Feb. 8 | Vancouver Island Free Daily

TV Show

“Interstellar Voyage” Season 1, Episode 5 - Out There: Crimes of the Paranormal | IMDB

Youtube Videos

He Built a Spaceship in His Backyard. Then He Vanished Forever | CBC Docs POV

BIG FINDINGS on the asteroid Bennu! | ASTRO_ALEXANDRA

Podcasts

The Sudden Departure of Granger Taylor: Part Two | Unsolved Mysteries Podcast

Episode 403 - Granger Taylor | The Trail Went Cold

Other

B.C.’s Granger Taylor Left a Note Saying He Was Boarding an Alien Spaceship - Then He Disappeared | CBC Docs

Granger Taylor: The Spaceman of Vancouver Island | Mysteries of Canada

43 Years Ago, Granger Taylor Left a Note Saying He Was Boarding an Alien Spaceship for an Interstellar Journey. He was Never Seen Again | Reddit

Granger Taylor | Unsolved Mysteries Wiki

Bob’s Grill in the late 1970’s - Cowichan, My Valley…. Do you remember… | Facebook Group

Granger Taylor was a mechanical genius who could fix anything. In 1980, he had become obsessed with aliens and said they had invited him on an interstellar voyage. And then, he disappeared. It's one of the more curious and baffling stories in British Columbia.

In Part 1 of this Two-Part story, we introduce you to Granger’s life and what happened in the time leading up to his disappearance. Join us October 6 for Part 2! 

Of Particular Interest:

Advertising for Love | Smithsonian Magazine 

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/blogs/national-museum-american-history/2026/02/12/`advertising-for-love/

Sources:

What Happened to Granger Taylor? | Times Colonist

UFO Encounter at Duncan Hospital Depicted on Canadian Coin | Times Colonist  

The Man Who Went to Space and Disappeared | Vice 

VIDEO: ‘Spaceman’, The Story of Duncan’s Granger Taylor, Premieres on CBC on Friday, Feb. 8 | Vancouver Island Free Daily 

The Ancient Story of Swuq’us | The Discourse

“Interstellar Voyage” Season 1, Episode 5 - Out There: Crimes of the Paranormal | IMDB 

He Built a Spaceship in His Backyard. Then He Vanished Forever | CBC Docs POV 

BIG FINDINGS on the asteroid Bennu! | ASTRO_ALEXANDRA

The Sudden Departure of Granger Taylor: Part Two | Unsolved Mysteries Podcast 

Episode 403 - Granger Taylor | The Trail Went Cold

B.C.’s Granger Taylor Left a Note Saying He Was Boarding an Alien Spaceship - Then He Disappeared | CBC Docs 

Granger Taylor: The Spaceman of Vancouver Island | Mysteries of Canada

43 Years Ago, Granger Taylor Left a Note Saying He Was Boarding an Alien Spaceship for an Interstellar Journey. He was Never Seen Again | Reddit 

Granger Taylor | Unsolved Mysteries Wiki 

Bob’s Grill in the late 1970’s - Cowichan, My Valley…. Do you remember… | Facebook Group 

This episode follows the heartbreaking final trip of two beloved off-road creators, Stacy Turout and Matthew Yeomans, whose passion for adventure, remote travel, and vehicle building helped them inspire a huge online audience. It also explores the realities of backcountry rescue, the risks of remote terrain, and why communication planning matters so much when you’re far from help.

Along the way, we look at what “off roading” involves, how Stacy and Matthew built their life and their brand around adventure, and how their modified rigs — including their famous Toyota World Runners builds — became part of their story. Their journey took them from Vancouver Island to the far reaches of South America and New Zealand, but it ended in tragedy on a steep mountain road in the Trout Lake area of British Columbia.

This is a sensitive episode, and while it deals with death and rescue response, there are no explicit or graphic details. It’s also a reminder that even experienced outdoor travelers need strong safety planning, especially in remote places with limited cell service and difficult access.

[00:00:00] - A fatal accident in a remote backcountry setting
[00:01:01] - What off roading is and how overlanding differs from rock crawling
[00:03:04] - Stacy Turout and Matthew Yeomans: their life, relationship, and YouTube success
[00:04:26] - Their travel videos, Pan-American journey, and engagement in Argentina
[00:06:49] - Trout Lake, BC: the remote setting of the crash
[00:08:20] - The accident call, search-and-rescue response, and helicopter rescue
[00:10:34] - What happened on the mountain trail and the severity of the fall
[00:12:56] - RCMP statement and the couple’s passing
[00:13:43] - Community memorials and celebration of life
[00:14:14] - Safety lessons on satellite communication and off-road precautions

• Toyota World Runners YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@ToyotaWorldRunners

• 4 Wheel Drive Association of BC: https://www.4wdabc.ca/

• BC government off-road vehicle safety: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/transportation/driving-and-cycling/off-road-vehicles

• Search and Rescue in British Columbia: https://www.bcsara.com/

What stands out most in this story is how deeply Stacy and Matthew lived their passion. They built a life around exploration, creativity, and community, and they connected with people across the world through their adventures and storytelling.

Their story is also a sobering reminder to plan carefully for remote travel: know your route, carry reliable communication tools, understand their limits, and never underestimate how quickly conditions can change in the backcountry.

Search and rescue in British Columbia is a massive, always-on effort, and this conversation pulls back the curtain on what it really takes to keep people safe in the backcountry and beyond. We’re joined by Paul Berry, a veteran SAR leader with more than 28 years of experience, to talk about the realities of missing-person searches, volunteer burnout, modern rescue technology, and the training that goes into every operation.

This episode also revisits the Sylvia Apps search with insight from someone who helped lead the response. Paul shares what made that case so challenging, why certain searches are suspended, and how teams continue the work long after a formal search ends. For anyone who loves the outdoors—or wants to understand what happens when things go wrong—this conversation offers practical safety takeaways and a deeper appreciation for the people doing this work.

We also get into the “three T’s” of outdoor safety, the rise of drones and Artemis technology, how volunteers are recruited and trained, and why donations matter so much to local SAR teams. If you’ve ever assumed a 911 call automatically means instant rescue, this episode will change that perspective.

[00:00:17] - Celebrating the 10th episode and introducing the podcast’s first interview format
[00:00:35] - The scale of search and rescue in British Columbia and the role of volunteers
[00:01:11] - Guest introduction: Paul Berry, Comox Valley Ground Search and Rescue Manager
[00:02:59] - How search and rescue works across BC and who activates teams
[00:04:55] - Burnout, increasing call volume, and year-round demand on SAR teams
[00:06:11] - Outdoor safety advice: training, trip planning, and essentials
[00:08:51] - Paul’s perspective on the Sylvia Apps search
[00:12:47] - How and when a search is stood down
[00:17:36] - Search and rescue technology: drones, cell data, and Artemis airborne systems
[00:20:34] - How Paul got started in search and rescue
[00:24:08] - Team structure, specialist skills, and training requirements
[00:27:30] - Applying to SAR teams and how volunteer intake works
[00:28:45] - Donations, funding gaps, and why community support matters

• Adventure Smart: https://adventuresmart.ca/

• Comox Valley Ground Search and Rescue: https://cvgsar.com/

• BC Search and Rescue Association: https://bcsara.com/

• Justice Institute of British Columbia: https://www.jibc.ca/

Paul’s stories make one thing clear: search and rescue is powered by skill, preparation, and a remarkable amount of dedication. The episode closes with a reminder that outdoor safety starts long before anyone is missing—and that staying informed can make all the difference.

If you want to support SAR work, consider donating, volunteering, or sharing outdoor safety resources with someone heading into the backcountry.

Today, we're telling you about a notable figure.

She was brave and bold and held jobs in the fur trade, the cod industry, helped move gold in the prospecting days and had many stories of rescuing hundreds of people and quite a few misadventures herself.

This is the story of Dora

Of Particular Interest:

What remains of Dora:

Dora | Heritage BC

Book about a photographer’s time on Dora”

https://clayworkspotters.com/thwaites/sailing.html

Book about SS Farallon Shipwreck:

https://www.indigo.ca/products/farallon

The Novarupta

The Great Eruption of 1912 | National Park Service USA

Sources:

About Us | Underwater Archaeological Society of British Columbia

Dora | Heritage BC

Report on the Salmon Fisheries in Alaska, Issue 909 | Google Books

Alaska Shipwrecks | AlaskaShipwrecks.com

SS Dora 1880 | Wikipedia

Katmai National Park & Reserve | National Park Service USA

The Great Eruption of 1912 | National Park Service USA

Archbishop of Vancouver Island Murdered Near Nulato | Aunt Phil’s Trunk

Sailing the Mail in Alaska | Clay Works Potters