CANADA Canada - Ben Tyner, 32, cowboy, horse returned w/o him, Merritt, British Columbia, 26 Jan 2019 - #2

[zecats]

Ita.
There’s a lot of history with NR. Unfortunately, my WiFi is super slow lately & trying to open articles is all but impossible.

I just realized Hubby and I have been somewhat close to there on one of our cross-country-and-up-into-Canada trips. We drove from Glacier NP in MT to Radium Hot Springs, BC, where we stayed a few days before heading on to Banff NP. I checked and it's about 6 hours drive (300 miles) east of Merritt. It definitely is beautiful country, all the way from Glacier on up and over, as I recall.

 

[Trudie]

I think if there are trails that go high enough to get completely over the mountain, they'd probably have been snow covered, and the tracks would have shown up.

True. Plus he prob would have saddled up well before 2pm & had another rider with him, imo.

 

[Trudie]

I just realized Hubby and I have been somewhat close to there on one of our cross-country-and-up-into-Canada trips. We drove from Glacier NP in MT to Radium Hot Springs, BC, where we stayed a few days before heading on to Banff NP. I checked and it's about 6 hours drive (300 miles) east of Merritt. It definitely is beautiful country, all the way from Glacier on up and over, as I recall.

Could you please go again, ASAP?
So much open land in the Nicola Valley area, think of all the hiding places, known to few.

 

[zecats]

Oh I do remember he stayed for awhile and moved in November around Thanksgiving.

He was def there in early November though, at least scouting things out.

 

[Satchie]

True. Plus he prob would have saddled up well before 2pm & had another rider with him, imo.

Actually, now I recall images/footage of the search, there was definitely snow up where they were searching.
Search for missing Merritt cowboy enters third day

 

[zecats]

RSBM
I think if there are trails that go high enough to get completely over the mountain, they'd probably have been snow covered, and the tracks would have shown up.

Edited to isolate quote

I found a map for tourism (posted back a bit) with bike trails and snowshoe trails in the Swakum MT area. Several of the trails were named, Upper...and Lower.... Possible that these trails do go at least near the summit.

Wow - checked and the summit of Swakum Mt is 5, 423 ft. Not a little mountain. That would be some climb. That and the fact that there were no tracks for Ben, even around where the horse had tracked from, were some of the reasons LE suspected he was trailered up there in the beginning. Plus pretty far from his residence. Now I presume, they suspect he probably never even rode in the first place. JMO

 

[rootbeer]

Thank you! That works. Beautiful country with huge mountain ranges

 

[zecats]

Actually, now I recall images/footage of the search, there was definitely snow up where they were searching.
Search for missing Merritt cowboy enters third day

View attachment 176459

And an article stating that Ben's parents were searching from a helicopter while Jack, his brother was on horseback, with Ben's dog. There were photos in that SMS article as well showing snow and fairly wide open areas.

 

[MistyWaters]

I just realized Hubby and I have been somewhat close to there on one of our cross-country-and-up-into-Canada trips. We drove from Glacier NP in MT to Radium Hot Springs, BC, where we stayed a few days before heading on to Banff NP. I checked and it's about 6 hours drive (300 miles) east of Merritt. It definitely is beautiful country, all the way from Glacier on up and over, as I recall.

The Rocky Mountains that you would’ve driven through are well...sort of rocky lol and quite different to the lower elevation landscape around Merritt, BC. All beautiful country though.

 

[zecats]

The Rocky Mountains that you would’ve driven through are well...sort of rocky lol and quite different to the lower elevation landscape around Merritt, BC. All beautiful country though.

I remember the mountains for sure, especially on the drive from RHS over to Banff. It's all beautiful country. We were in Vancouver and Victoria as well, driving to and from Seattle on another vacation out west.

 

[Satchie]

There's a pic of his truck on Ben's sm acct- newer big white 4 door
extended cab. I wondered when I saw it if the local cowboys
would be jealous of his nice things. Nice, truck, nice saddle and
tack, nice horse, etc.

LOL, most guys in the region "own" very nice trucks - or rather, the dealership lets them use them for $0 down and a few hundred a month for the rest of their life.

 

[zecats]

Dated March 20.
May have been posted already, so sorry for duplicate.

Foul play not suspected initially. I found it interesting as some of us (myself for sure) probably believed RCMP thought foul play much earlier, when they brought in the crime unit. Wonder how conclusive the puzzle pieces would have to be. JMO

Missing Rancher Case May Involve Criminality, RCMP Says

Sergeant Janelle Shoihet, RCMP, said recent information obtained by the by the southeast district major crime unit “reinvigorates” the investigation. Until this week, Shoihet said there was no indication of foul play, but would not reveal details.

“Now having had the opportunity to review all the pieces, we believe that the circumstances surrounding Mr. Tyner’s disappearance may involve criminality,” Shoihet said.

 

[Trudie]

Actually, now I recall images/footage of the search, there was definitely snow up where they were searching.
Search for missing Merritt cowboy enters third day

View attachment 176459

However, LE said the weather was cooperative.
Linked previously.

 

[Trudie]

LOL, most guys in the region "own" very nice trucks - or rather, the dealership lets them use them for $0 down and a few hundred a month for the rest of their life.

Hauling stock, traveling, etc., requires a decent truck. Ben was always gainfully employed.
He sure did have a lot of interesting travels for a young cowboy.
Think how fun it would be to hear his tales, see his memorabilia. Sadly, his last chapter was written far too soon.

 

[zecats]

Could you please go again, ASAP?
So much open land in the Nicola Valley area, think of all the hiding places, known to few.

Ok. I’ll meet you there for coffee. Or geocaching.

 

[Trudie]

Ok. I’ll meet you there for coffee. Or geocaching.

Book rooms at NR.
We will sleuth & report here.
Wonder if LE will give an update by end of week?

 

[enelram]

Book rooms at NR.
We will sleuth & report here.
Wonder if LE will give an update by end of week?

Meant to tell you all, the NR.com site is no longer up. Gone.
Does this mean they shut down the guest rooms/cabins and taking
in guests?

 

[Trudie]

Meant to tell you all, the NR.com site is no longer up. Gone.
Does this mean they shut down the guest rooms/cabins and taking
in guests?

I can find sites still advertising lodging. I have not clicked on any. Maybe for now they ceased operations?

 

[Satchie]

Foul play not suspected initially. I found it interesting as some of us (myself for sure) probably believed RCMP thought foul play much earlier, when they brought in the crime unit. Wonder how conclusive the puzzle pieces would have to be. JMO

Absolutely, calling in the Major Crimes Unit is not routine for a missing person case: their mandate refers only to "missing persons (where foul play is suspected)". Crime Investigations - Royal Canadian Mounted Police (bottom of page)

I don't believe they would waste their time going down to Merritt to investigate just to 'cover all the bases' as was quoted in the press. That was just local police trying to keep the lid on rumour.

For example, the RCMP haven't called in the MCU for the disappearance of Ryan Shtuka, although they are apparently 'reviewing the file'.

IMO, there must have been some aspect of the case that merited (pun!) the specialized skills and resources of the MCU, such as suspicious tire tracks or a suspected crime scene that needed to be processed to the highest standards.

 

[zecats]

Meant to tell you all, the NR.com site is no longer up. Gone.
Does this mean they shut down the guest rooms/cabins and taking
in guests?

That link has always been down when I try the actual website. Facebook page of NR is where I see photos of rentals. Though posts are from some years ago.