CANADA Canada - Darius Macdougall, 5, Crowsnest Pass, Alberta,Canada 21 Sept 2025

[lcl117]

Bothers me that they had his age wrong. Was it reported to them incorrectly?

if i understood correctly, the dad had initially said he was 5. the mother was on facebook almost immediately saying he was 6, she wasn't there though

 

[TMich6811]

Does anyone know how busy this park is? Would there have been cars and people who could see him easily if he walked away?

 

[lcl117]

its close to the crowsnest highway, a major highway between british columbia and alberta

 

[Lalalacasbah]

Does anyone know how busy this park is? Would there have been cars and people who could see him easily if he walked away?

Campground looks to have 40 sites suited to RVs and FCFS (First come first serve).

"It has about 40 sites which are suited to RVs. It is a convenient stopping point for travelers exploring the Crowsnest Pass area. This campground offers close access to lakes for canoeing, sailing, boating, fishing or windsurfing."

• This campground is eligible for the Alberta Parks Camping Fee Discount for Albertan Seniors for any camping nights reserved for May 1, 2025, and onward.

There are pull-through campsites here.
Campsites are first come-first served. Self-registration is in effect with camping fees paid by cash or personal cheque only.

Island Lake - Island Lake Provincial Recreation Area | Alberta Parks

www.albertaparks.ca

 

[Lalalacasbah]

Amenities at campsite:​

Firepits

Shelter - Picnic

Pit/Vault Toilets

Water - Pump

Hand Launch

 

[TMich6811]

Man I hope everything was checked as folks left the camp

 

[Lalalacasbah]

Man I hope everything was checked as folks left the camp

Me too, especially with RVs... I looked at photos, it's quite vast out there

 

[Lalalacasbah]

Poor little guy. Doesn't help he was wearing a blue/gray hoodie... that blends in with the tree shadows and environment. Unlike Travis Decker's neon green shirt that helpful to be seen on drones.

 

[Lalalacasbah]

Satellite image from Google of Island Lake Campground area via Maps:

 

[Lalalacasbah]

Here's where road leads to highway:

 

[Lalalacasbah]

Cul de Sac area, close by campground but I don't think part of the campground but looks to be part of the park. Looks like people park or camp here by the water. Maybe it is considered campground, not sure:

 

[Lalalacasbah]

Down the road surrounding campsites looks like on map:

 

[Inthedetails]

Down the road surrounding campsites looks like on map:

View attachment 616426
View attachment 616427

It's hard to believe he's not in the water, I am sad to say.

Off topic, that place is gorgeous. I'm sorry the family is suffering such tragedy while visiting such a beautiful place.

jmopinion

 

[MistyWaters]

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/missing-alberta-boy-search-day-5-1.7643784

Clarification of a few details, including Darius is six, not five years old and the non-adult persons he went on a walk with are not all his siblings. So I have to wonder if he was camping with relatives and not his parents??? This case is short on any background info but maybe that’s wise, so nobody can be judged keeping all the focus on the search.

Another previous article had mentioned searchers put flashing lights out at night in hopes of leading him to the road, now bright lights are to be avoided. Seems to be a learn as they go along. Playing one of his favourite songs is a thoughtful idea IMO.
JMO

“Macdougall's autism has added additional challenges to the search, but search leaders have adapted the techniques to improve the odds, avoiding bright lights at night and playing one of Macdougall's favourite songs.”

 

[Lalalacasbah]

It's hard to believe he's not in the water, I am sad to say.

Off topic, that place is gorgeous. I'm sorry the family is suffering such tragedy while visiting such a beautiful place.

jmopinion

My thoughts exactly, it really is a beautiful place and looks like a great place to camp. The forest is vast but I'm surprised how many gravel roads/places to walk there seems to be.

 

[TMich6811]

My thoughts exactly, it really is a beautiful place and looks like a great place to camp. The forest is vast but I'm surprised how many gravel roads/places to walk there seems to be.

I agree with the water - I’m confused because I keep seeing they cleared it and feel he isn’t in it but I don’t understand how they could have fully done that

 

[Lalalacasbah]

Forgive the chicken scratch circles and editing!! Circled vicinity of Bible Camp where searchers are sleeping.

And I really hope everyone is searching that gravel pit across the highway (bottom of photo) and the sandy-like(?) embankments by the campground (near top of photo). *ETA: one of them is a Limestone quarry that looms over campground at Island Lake Provincial Recreation Area.

Was he a climber? What fun to try to climb up those if you're a kid. If my little child sees a pile of leaves, dirt or rocks, she will want to climb it or jump around on them. MOO JMO

 

[Lalalacasbah]

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/missing-alberta-boy-search-day-5-1.7643784

Clarification of a few details, including Darius is six, not five years old and the non-adult persons he went on a walk with are not all his siblings. So I have to wonder if he was camping with relatives and not his parents??? This case is short on any background info but maybe that’s wise, so nobody can be judged keeping all the focus on the search.

Another previous article had mentioned searchers put flashing lights out at night in hopes of leading him to the road, now bright lights are to be avoided. Seems to be a learn as they go along. Playing one of his favourite songs is a thoughtful idea IMO.
JMO

“Macdougall's autism has added additional challenges to the search, but search leaders have adapted the techniques to improve the odds, avoiding bright lights at night and playing one of Macdougall's favourite songs.”

Cousins perhaps and maybe camping with extended family as well as parents? MOO

Ya playing familiar music is smart, come on Darius!

 

[Lalalacasbah]

Ok, it's a Limstone Quarry it seems....Here's a better pic of it. Hard to tell the size and mass of them though. Are they climbable? Seems far fro the campsite but maybe not.

Description off website: "Limestone quarry looms over campground at Island Lake Provincial Recreation Area".

Island Lake Recreation Area | Alberta, Canada | Crown of the Continent Geotourism

Uncover the authentic character of a place called the Crown of the Continent. At the narrow waist of the Rocky Mountains, where Alberta, British Columbia, and Montana meet, sprawls one of the wildest, most diverse and intact ecosystems in the temperate zones of the world.

crownofthecontinent.net

 

[TMich6811]

Cousins perhaps and maybe camping with extended family as well as parents? MOO

Ya playing familiar music is smart, come on Darius!

I was wondering if they went with dads SO maybe who had their own kids? I have nothing to support this just a thought