Teen hiker speaks out about surviving 54 hours lost in Golden Ears Park

Esther Wang, the 16-year-old hiker who went missing in Golden Ears Park, is speaking out about how she survived more than two days lost and alone in the wilderness.

Wang was reported missing on Tuesday when she became separated from a group she was hiking with — prompting a widescale search for the teen. On Thursday, about 54 hours after she was last seen, she found her way out.

Now, the Langley teen is speaking out about what happened.

In a letter posted online, Wang says she was out hiking with a group — two youths and one adult — when she became separated.

“My youth group made it to the first viewpoint called Golden Ears Viewpoint. As we started our descent, I tried to be as careful as possible making my way down. I was never lagging behind the group; rather, I was around 2 meters away from the rest of the group. At one point, the group made a turn somewhere along the trail, but I did not notice because I was solely concentrating on following the trail right in front of me. Because of this, I turned the wrong way and ended up on the wrong path,” the letter reads.

“Once I realized that the rest of my group was no longer in front of me, I tried to turn around, but I tripped and fell down until I reached a flatter part of the mountain. Scared and lonely, I curled into a ball and I tried to stay as calm as possible.”

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After her fall, she says she heard people whistling in what sounded like a signal. She says she tried to head toward the noises but couldn’t find anyone.

“By then, it was almost dark and my instinct was to find water. I trekked all the way down the mountain until I reached a river. Thankfully, I was able to refill my water bottles and I had packed food for the hike. I tried to get some sleep on the rocks nearby, but I was cold and freezing. Suddenly around one in the morning on June 28, I see spotlights above me flashing down at the mountains,” Wang says.

She explains she tried to flag down the searchers again but was unsuccessful.

“I was filled with hopelessness and fear, but I knew I could not give up,” she says. “I was determined to make my way home. Filled with courage, I decided to climb back up the same mountain in hopes to find the trail again. I spent the majority of the morning finding my way back up the mountain, but I still could not pinpoint the whistle sounds.”

Wang says she spent the day traversing the mountain, trying to find her way. She notes she saw search helicopters and heard dogs barking and people whistling, but in each case, she was unsuccessful in getting in contact with them.

“I tried making noise, singing and even shaking nearby trees to grab their attention, but everything I tried failed. It took some time, but I was able to hike to the top of the mountain where I would rest on the second night,” she says.

The following day, Wang says she was able to get her bearings thanks to a digital camera that she had used to take pictures during the initial hike and was able to retrace her steps.

“Eventually, I spotted a gravel path nearby the river. Filled with relief, I followed the gravel trail until I hit a beach. The sign at the beach was labelled “Hiker’s Beach,” and I knew I needed to get to the Gold Creek Parking Lot, which was in the opposite direction according to the sign,” she says.

“I dragged my feet back to the river and crossed the rapid river as carefully as possible and followed the path. I never noticed my pain and soreness until I was forcing my body forward on the gravel path. I began to feel dizzy, and I started to imagine things in front of me when there clearly wasn’t anyone around me. I continued to encourage myself to keep moving forward and to not give up yet.”

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It was around 9:15 p.m. on Thursday, when Wang says she made it to the parking lot.

“I recognized my parents, and I tried to run towards them. Although I was able to ‘walk out’ of the mountain by myself, I could not have done it without the search and rescue teams, police, volunteers and park rangers. They led the way, and I was able to follow,” she says.

During her remarkable journey, the teen says she sustained various minor injuries, including slipping and hitting her head, and says she is still recovering from the ordeal.

“I can barely stand on my own and walk properly. My body and mind are still recovering and processing what happened and the trauma I have experienced. I am thankful for the privacy everyone has given me during this difficult time,” Wang says.

“I am overwhelmed by all the support and care everyone has shown me and I am forever grateful for everyone involved with the search effort. I believe God led me home to my safety. The sheer willpower to keep moving forward is the reason I am still alive.”

In the letter, she also expresses her gratitude to all of the people involved in the search. The teen says she loves spending time outdoors and has participated in various activities.

She has also been an active Air Cadet for several years, and notes she has learned various survival skills that “played a huge role” in being able to survive the treacherous journey.

-With files from Monika Gul