21-year-old woman found dead after getting lost while snowshoeing in B.C.'s North Shore Mountains

A 21-year-old woman who went missing Thursday after she went snowshoeing in B.C.'sNorth Shore Mountains has been found dead.

CBC has identified her as Nikki Donnelly of Ontario based on information provided by rescue officials and social media accounts.

Donnelly posted a short Instagram video Thursday afternoon of the picturesque view from atop St. Mark's Summit, a popular hiking spot north of Vancouver.

Shortly after, the young woman, whowas visiting B.C. from Ontario, made her way back down the Howe Sound Crest Trail, according to officials with North Shore Rescue.

She soon called her boyfriend in Toronto to tell him she was lost and in distress before the call dropped.

The woman's disappearanceset off an overnight search that ended with rescue crews discovering her body Friday morning,at about 10:40 a.m. PT,in a steep drainage area below the summit.

The crew flew the woman by helicopter back to their rescue base, where she was pronounced dead.

"Our thoughts are with the woman's family and friends, as well with all the responders and search teams to the St. Mark'sarea last night and today,"Sgt. Sascha Banks with Squamish RCMP said in a statement.

The police did notidentify the woman, but rescue officials referred to her by her first name, Nikki, and noted she had posted a video from the summit.

WATCH | Hiker posts video atop St. Mark's Summit before going missing:

Hiker posts video online shortly before going missing

4 years ago

Duration 0:16

The 21-year-old hiker, identified as Nikki Donnelly on social media, posted a video on Instagram atop St. Mark's Summit. She got lost while making her way back down.

Called boyfriend several times

Rescue crews were called to look for Donnellyaround 4:30p.m. PT Thursday, butdespite an all-night search with twohelicopters and night-vision equipment,she was notfound overnight.

North Shore Rescue team leader Mike Danks said fresh search teams returned to the areaat first light on Friday tolook for any signs of the woman or possible tracks off the trail.

The St.Mark's Summit hike ispart of the Howe Sound Crest Trail, a 28-kilometre trail thatwinds through the mountaintops north of Vancouver.

The 11-kilometre hike typicallytakes four to five hoursround-trip and leads hikers to a peak with aview of the water and islands.

Danks said the woman called her boyfriendwhen she reached St. Mark's Summit. Shortly after, she phoned him again when she realized she was lost. The call then dropped.

Snowshoer unlikely prepared to spend the night

Rescue officials said Donnellyoften travelled solo. Her most recent Instagram posts featureher skiing in Whistler and dog sledding in Kelowna.

Crews said she was likely out for a day trip Thursday while staying with a friend, and appeared "reasonably prepared." Her gear included snow shoes and micro spikes.

But Danks said Donnellywaslikely not equipped to spendthe night on the mountain.

There was a significantamount of snow, and windy, rainy weatherhadwiped out searchers' tracks.

Danks said the only indicationthat the woman was on the mountain wasfrom the video she took and her registered rental car still parked in the Cypress Mountain parking lot.

Her cellphonelast pinged at 3:30 p.m. PT Thursday. Based on the ping, Danks said, crews reasoned the woman was on the east side of the peak, where she was eventually located.

Rescue crews noted the woman did not call 911. The sun had set by the time they reached the area in the late afternoon.

RCMPon Friday urged anyone who is in need of help while exploring remote areas tocall 911.

"As well, before you leave, please:research your area, take all the equipment you need, know your skill level, follow weather patterns, knowsnow conditions,and have a trip plan," Sgt. Banks said.

Squamish RCMP will work with the BC Coroners Service to investigate the woman's death.