NSR stops search for missing 84-year-old man at Grouse Mountain

North Shore Rescue (NSR) has announced that it called off the search for an 84-year-old man indefinitely.

Won Kil Kim has been missing since Sunday, Nov. 16, after he took the gondola up Grouse Mountain. 

NSR crews started looking for Kim on Monday and continued with their effort throughout the week, to no avail.

“We were hoping to spot and find one of his poles or one of his gloves or his hat or something, or even just a track, indicating where he might have either fallen off a bluff or an edge or something,” NSR spokesperson Al McMordie told 1130 NewsRadio.

McMordie says NSR team members will be up on the mountain carrying out routine activities and looking out for clues.

“No clue, no sign. And we’ve suspended any active intensive searching. Until something shows up,” McMordie explained.

Cameras captured him dressed in hiking gear, and NSR says that he is familiar with the trails in the area.

“It is believed he was wearing a grey rain jacket, purple gloves, and was using hiking poles,” said an NSR post to social media, including an image of Kim on a trail.

Kim, who lives in Surrey, is described as 5 feet 5 inches and 140 pounds.

NSR paused its efforts to find him over the weekend because of bad weather.

McMordie is urging hikers to let their friends and family know of their plans before they go up into the backcountry.

“Always leave a trip planned with somebody back home so that they can phone 911 if you don’t get back by the designated time. That way, we’ll know where you were planning to hike.”

With files from Srushti Gangdev.