American man goes missing kayaking in B.C.'s Columbia Valley

Photo: RCMP

A search is underway in the Columbia Valley for a missing paddler.

Peter Jolles, 46, of Virginia, set out Sunday on a solo kayaking trip down Bugaboo Creek and failed to appear at his designated pick-up location. When he didn’t arrive as expected, he was reported missing to police.

Police and search volunteers flooded the area Sunday night and found Jolles’ green inflatable kayak, but not him.

“Columbia Valley RCMP is asking pedestrians to avoid the search area, namely the banks around the Lower Bugaboo Falls area and Bugaboo Creek, to allow search teams to work freely,” states Sgt. Darren Kakuno, Columbia Valley RCMP detachment commander.

Lower Bugaboo Falls is located near Spillimacheen, roughly 35 kilometres north of Radium Hot Springs.

Jolles was last seen wearing a black dry suit, grey life jacket and white helmet. He is described as a Caucasian man, standing six-foot-five, weighing 180 pounds, with a fit physique and shoulder length wavy hair.