The RCMP and volunteers continue to comb woods and trails of northern B.C. in their fourth day of searching for a missing American documentary maker.

Warren Andrew Sill, 26, set out from his home in Cleveland, Ohio and traveled 4,500 kilometres to Whiskey Creek Trail to film a documentary about the elusive B.C. spirit bear.

But since he told his parents on July 4 that he would spend four to five days filming, they have yet to hear from him.

Then, on July 10, RCMP officers found Sill’s abandoned vehicle near the entrance to the 7.5 kilometre hiking trail, near the Seven Sisters Provincial Park, prompting the officers to contact his family.

While five-day hikes aren’t unheard of in the area, New Hazelton RCMP spokesperson Lesley Smith says there is cause for worry.

“The equipment found in his vehicle was very concerning to us,” she tells Playback Daily.

“His camera and video equipment were not there, but all of his camping equipment was still in the vehicle,” she adds.

Also concerning, says Smith, is the fact that Sill is unarmed in an area known to be inhabited by a high number of bears, and that he is not known as an experienced outdoorsman.

“Other trails can be met at the head of the trail, so there’s a vast area to explore and there are two creeks that run through that area that are also of concern to us,” she explains.

Smith says the RCMP and search and rescue teams from Prince George, Ridge Meadows and Terrace, B.C. will continue the search, expanding the coverage to other areas west of Whiskey Creek Trail.

In the meantime the RCMP is encouraging anyone on social media sites who has been in contact with Sill and may have a better indication of where he planned to explore to contact the New Hazleton RCMP.