Hat and glasses of missing hiker found, family appeals for search to resume

The father of a Vancouver man who went missing in E.C. Manning Provincial Park on Thanksgiving weekend says officials need to resume the search for their son after new clues were discovered Sunday night.

Greg Naterer said a hiker found a white hat and Oakley brand glasses belonging to his son Jordan, along with "off-trail footprints" south of Frosty Peak in an area that hasn't been well searched.

"We're appealing to the Vancouver Police Department to please re-activate this search as soon as possible and get thermal imaging helicopters and drones and dogs up there," said Greg Naterer.

"They suspended the search... despite our objections on Saturday and said they would re-activate if there were clues, and we believe a significant new clue was found yesterday."

Watch | Parents say the discovery of new items belonging to their son means search should be reactivated:

Jordan Naterer, 25, was reported missing on Oct. 13 after he didn't show up for Thanksgiving dinner. His black 2016 Honda Civic was found in the Lightning Lake area of the park, at the Frosty Mountain trailhead.

E.C. Manning Provincial Park is about 200 kilometres east of Vancouver.

On Monday, police told CBC News the search was called off "based on the expert advice of the SAR teams and lack of additional information."

"Cases such as Mr. Naterer's are very rare. It's always our goal to locate missing persons as soon as possible and their files are never closed. Our investigators will continue to investigate any additional information that becomes available, but at this time, we have followed up on all leads," Vancouver Police Department Const. Tania Visintin wrote in an email.

Investigators believe Naterer was on a "hiking trip that went poorly." His parents have flown to Vancouver from their home in St. John's to help look for their son.

In her Facebook post Sunday, mother Josie Naterer pointed out her son's packable down-fill hooded coat is red, not orange as previously publicized. She called for wind data and analysis to figure out where the white hat might have blown from.

"Jordan may be possibly throwing things out in hopes of blowing toward the trail," she wrote.

Greg Naterer believes Jordan is still alive.

"Knowing my son, he is very resourceful and very resilient. I'm guessing that he is very weak and might be injured," he said.

Jordan Naterer has fair skin, stands five feet 10 inches tall, has a slim build and short brown hair, according to a description issued by police. He was last seen wearing black pants and white running shoes, and carrying a large olive green backpack.

Anyone who sees him is asked to call 911 and stay with him until police arrive.