St. Albert couple missing after Nepal earthquake

A St. Albert couple missing since Saturday's devastating earthquake in Nepal was hiking on a path they traversed 35 years ago, shortly after they were married.

Kathy and Bruce Macmillan made the decision to take the hikeat the last minute, andhaven't been heard from since April 20, when Kathy called family from Nepal, before they began their seven-day trek in Langtang National Park one of the worst hit areas. They were expected to return from their hike today.

"If Kathy and Bruce can get the information out to us, they will. I'm waiting for that to happen," said Laurie Butler, Kathy's sister, who learned about the earthquake Saturday morning.

By Monday afternoon, the death toll had risen to more than 4,000. Friends and family of theMacmillans are trying not to focus on that, said Bruce's sister, Louise Bentley.

"Bruce is extremely capable, he can do anything ... our fingers are crossed," she said.

The Macmillans are experienced hikers who on this trip elected to not have a guide or a tent, and had planned to stay in tea houses during their trek.

"Kathy and Bruce are very resilient, common-sense people. Bruce will go right into a leadership role and Kathy is a nurse," said Butler.

"I wouldn't be surprised if they're helping people.If they were in trouble, they would know what to do. Ifully anticipate hearing from them."

Couple planned to hike with sons

The Macmillans have been travelling in Asia for the last six months, after spendingtime at an ashram in India.Theyhad plans to hike with their two adult sons in Nepal, and after arriving in Kathmandu early, decided at the last minute to hike into LangtangNational Park.

Both of the couple's sons have been in touch with family.

The younger son, Fraser, 28, sent just a few lines to Bentley, his aunt, shortly after the earthquake.

"I'm safe. I had to run for my life but i am alive," read the email.

Bentley has since learned Fraser found help at an American military base after he said officials at the Canadian consulate offered no help.

Jay, 30, is in New Delhi, and has decided to stay there rather thantravel to Nepal.

"The support we've got from the Canadian government has been very frustrating," said Bentley."I'm angry and frustrated and scared ...we're terrified."

Family members have posted details on social media, and Butlerhas called police in Kathmandu to add her sister and brother-in-law's names to the ever growing missing list.

The family has printed a flyer, had it translated into Nepalese, and are now trying to get it into the hands of people on the ground.

"You get into survivor mode," Butler said.

She said the police officer she spoke with told her search-and-rescue crews were going into the Langtang area, and about 500 hikers, some with severe injuries, were starting to trickle into tea houses in the area.

Alberta doctors on way to help

A doctor from Calgary, along witha doctorandparamedic from Edmonton, are now on their way to Nepal.

"The challenges are vast the health care, the fuel, the transportation, the logistics," said Rashad Chin, the chair of the Canadian medical assistance teams or CMAT who is also a doctor at the University of Alberta hospital.

Chin said a family member of the Macmillans contacted him and he's aware of their situation.

He said he's hopeful the team can start working in the Langtang area.

"We will certainly go wherever we can be useful, efficient and relieve some suffering and help people and provide the health care."