U.S. hikers want to give 'big thanks' to mystery Good Samaritans from Vancouver
A pair of U.S. hikers want to thank two Good Samaritans from Vancouver who came to their aid during a hike in California.
The hikers were on a trail near Palm Desert when they realized the hike was a bit more than they'd bargained for. Two strangers approached and offered help, and although the hikers thanked them at the time, they then reached out to CTV News to share their appreciation again.
What happened, according to Tennessee resident Raymond Troy Tate, is he and his brother-in-law had decided to take on a trail called Bump and Grind.
Tate said he was pretty conditioned to this type of exercise because he hikes daily in Murfreesboro, Tenn. He said the terrain is different but he felt he was prepared.
His brother-in-law is also fairly active, he said, participating in boot camp workouts and daily walks in Chattanooga, Tenn., but the hike proved more challenging than both of them expected.
"We had made a few rest stops on some of the steeper sections to allow some recovery," Tate said Tuesday.
It was during these stops that the pair met a couple from Vancouver, and had a short conversation.
"We talked about where we were from and what our activities had been on this planned vacation," Tate recalled.
"We exchanged pleasantries and wished each other a good rest of the day and safe hiking."
The couple walked on ahead, but then turned around and came back, cutting their hike short, he said.
"They stopped when we met and asked if we would accept a gift. They proceeded to give us their CamelBak pouch of water and said, 'Please accept this gift.'"
Tate said it was readily accepted, as they'd forgotten their water in their vehicle.
With this gift, they went on to complete the four-mile loop with elevations slightly above 305 metres (1,000 feet).
"We spoke of the generosity of this couple to cut their plans short in order to allow us to continue the hike. We were both very moved by the gesture of two total strangers," Tate said.
"We hear so much about the unkind acts that happen on a daily basis and the good deeds or acts go unnoticed."
So, in an email titled, "Shout out to a Vancouver couple," he contacted CTV News Vancouver, hoping to share this story of good deeds and to thank the couple one more time.
"I just wanted to let the citizens of Vancouver know that they live amongst some very good and kind people – or 'folks,' as we would say down south – and I am certain this is not the first time this couple has shown an act of kindness," Tate said.
He hopes that the story reaches the couple, so they know their actions were appreciated "more than words can say."
And he wants the other residents of Vancouver to know they're lucky to have "citizens that unknowingly represent them (so) well."
Do you know who the couple is? CTV News is looking to speak to those involved in the hike.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Harvey Weinstein's 2020 rape conviction overturned by N.Y. appeals court
New York's highest court on Thursday overturned Harvey Weinstein's 2020 rape conviction, reversing a landmark ruling of the #MeToo era in determining the trial judge improperly allowed women to testify about allegations against the ex-movie mogul that weren't part of the case.
BREAKING Honda to get up to $5B in govt help for EV battery, assembly plants
Honda is set to build an electric vehicle battery plant next to its Alliston, Ont., assembly plant, which it is retooling to produce fully electric vehicles, all part of a $15-billion project that is expected to include up to $5 billion in public money.
MPP Sarah Jama asked to leave Ontario legislature for wearing keffiyeh
MPP Sarah Jama was asked to leave the Legislative Assembly of Ontario by House Speaker Ted Arnott on Thursday for wearing a keffiyeh, a garment that is banned at Queen’s Park.
CTE: Researchers believe widespread brain injury may contribute to veteran suicide rate
Researchers are working to better understand if some Canadian military veterans may be suffering from Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy, also known as CTE -- a disorder previously found in the brains of professional football and hockey players after their death.
1 arrested in northern Alberta during public shelter order
Residents of John D'Or Prairie, a community on the Little Red River Cree Nation in northern Alberta, were told to take shelter Thursday morning during a police operation.
Secret $70M Lotto Max winners break their silence
During a special winner celebration near their hometown, Doug and Enid shared the story of how they discovered they were holding a Lotto Max ticket worth $70 million and how they kept this huge secret for so long.
Remains from a mother-daughter cold case were found nearly 24 years later, after a deathbed confession from the suspect
A West Virginia father is getting some sense of closure after authorities found the remains of his young daughter and her mother following a deathbed confession from the man believed to have fatally shot them nearly two decades ago.
New deep-water channel allows first ship to pass Key bridge wreckage in Baltimore
The first cargo ship passed through a newly opened deep-water channel in Baltimore on Thursday after being stuck in the harbor since the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapsed four weeks ago, halting most maritime traffic through the city's port.
First in Canada procedure performed at London, Ont. hospital
A London man has become the first person in Canada to receive a robotic assisted surgery on his spine. Dave Myeh suffered from debilitating, chronic back pain that led to sciatica in his right now and extreme pain in his lower back.