Human remains found in Yukon's Kluane National Park - Action News
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Human remains found in Yukon's Kluane National Park

RCMP confirmed on Wednesday a backpack and ID found nearby belonged to Till Moritz Gerull, a German man who went missing in Yukon in 2011.

Backpack with missing German man's ID found nearby

Human bones found in Kluane National Park

10 years ago
Duration 2:00
Human bones found in Kluane National Park

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  • RCMP confirm backpack and ID belonged to Till Moritz Gerull

Parks Canada has closed a popular backcountry route in Kluane National Park this spring after the discoveryof human remains.

The bones were found last fall in the area of Hoge Creek on the Donjek route (scroll down for a map of the closed area).

Yukon RCMP say the remains have not yet been identified.

Hikers walk in the Hoge Pass area of the Donjek route, a popular multi-day hike in the Kluane National Park. Human remains were found in the area last fall, along with camping gear and a backpack with identification. (Cheryl Kawaja/CBC)

RCMP Staff Sgt. BradKaedingsays the bones are human and male. He says camping gear was also discovered in the area.

"There was identification, so it does match up with a missing person, however we're not in a position to say at this point if the bones match up to that backpack," he said.

RCMP confirmed on Wednesday the backpack and ID belonged toTillMoritzGerull, a German man who went missing in Yukon in 2011.

An extensive search for more remains is expected to start this weekend around the isolated areas of Hoge Creek and the Donjek River. Kaeding says it will be a combined effort of police, Parks Canada staff and other officials.

The Donjek route, an isolated and popular multi-day trek, will beclosed until the end of June and the public is not permitted in the areas of Hoge Creek and Donjek River area as well as downstream of Bighorn Creek.

German man missing since 2011

Till Moritz Gerull was reported missing in 2012 by his family in Germany. He arrived in Yukon in 2011 on a flight from Frankfurt and never showed up for his flight home.

Two years ago, the Whitehorse RCMP asked for the public's help in findingGerull, whose family hadreported him missing.

Gerull flew from Frankfurt to Whitehorse on June 8, 2011 and according to police he "planned on walking through the forests of Canada." Police say Gerull did not take his flight back to Germany and his flight wasn't rebooked.

Gerull was 22 years old when he disappeared. According to a website maintained by his brother, it was a year before German police listed Gurell as missing because he had left his personal affairs in order.

Jascha Gerull writes thathis brother quit his job shortly before his disappearance and left rent money in a German bank.

"Only in May 2012, when the money in Germany ran out, did the police finally investigate and stated that Till flew on June 8, 2011 to Whitehorse, Canada."

Jascha says there is no trace of his brother in Canada.

"We, his friends and relatives, do not believe that he naively went into the wilderness, as it is represented in the Canadian press. There is no evidence of this, and he was not suicidal. We would like to believe that he lives and works in Canada. He had not told us of his intentions. No one knows why he did this. We only know that he was not happy in Germany. In 2010 he visited Canada as a tourist and was inspired by the country."

Parks Canada has closed the popular backcountry Donjek route in Kluane National Park after the discovery of human remains near Hoge Creek last fall. The area will remain closed until the end of June. (Parks Canada)