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
Couple randomly attacked, 1 stabbed, by group of teens in Toronto, police say
A man has been transported to hospital after police say he was stabbed in a random attack carried out by a group of teens in Toronto on Friday night.
Ron Ellis, who played over 1,000 games with Maple Leafs, dead at 79
Ron Ellis, who played over 1,000 games with the Toronto Maple Leafs and was a member of Canada's team at the 1972 Summit Series, has died at age 79.
Fort Nelson, B.C., wildfire doubles in size as 3,000-plus ordered to evacuate
The wildfire that sparked Friday and caused evacuation orders for more than 3,000 people in Fort Nelson, B.C., and the nearby Fort Nelson First Nation, has grown to nearly 1,700 hectares in size, according to a Saturday morning update from the BC Wildfire Service.
Dutch contestant kicked out of Eurovision hours before tension-plagued song contest final
Hours before the final, Dutch contestant Joost Klein was dramatically booted out by organizers over a backstage incident. He had failed to perform at two dress rehearsals on Friday, and contest organizer the European Broadcasting Union said it was investigating an "incident."
IN PHOTOS Northern lights dance across the night sky in southern Ont.
From London, to Mildmay, Collingwood and St. Thomas, here are some highlights of Friday night and Saturday morning's northern lights display.
Haitians demand the resignation and arrest of the country's police chief after a new gang attack
A growing number of civilians and police officers are demanding the dismissal and arrest of Haiti's police chief as heavily armed gangs launched a new attack in the capital of Port-au-Prince, seizing control of yet another police station early Saturday.
opinion How to use your credit card as a powerful wealth-building tool
Irresponsibly using a credit card can land you in financial trouble, but personal finance columnist Christopher Liew says when used properly, it can be a powerful wealth-building tool that can help grow your credit profile and create new opportunities.
Which Canadian cities have the highest and lowest grocery prices?
Where you live plays a big factor in what you pay at the grocery store. And while it's no secret the same item may have a different price depending on the store, city or province, we wanted to see just how big the differences are, and why.
'We have no judge for you': Man's assault charges dropped weeks before trial due to lack of judges in Toronto
A man who was accused of sexually and physically assaulting a woman had his charges dropped in April, just weeks before he was set to stand trial in Toronto, due to a lack of judges in the region.