Few clues as search continues for missing Airdrie camper Jordan Darda

The search for a missing Airdrie man who failed to return from a camping trip discovered his truck Wednesday, but there was still no sign of him as the operation ended for the day.

Jordan Darda, 20, hasn’t been heard from since the Labour Day weekend, when he left to go camping by himself near Jasper.

Shortly after noon Wednesday, a team from Parks Canada found Darda’s Ford Ranger pickup parked at the Pinto Lake trailhead off the Icefields Parkway, in the northeastern corner of Banff National Park.

It was the first clue to Darda’s whereabouts since Sept. 5, when he texted friends to let them know he’d arrived at his intended destination.

"It’s at an established trailhead with a lake, which matches what (Darda’s) friends told us," said RCMP Const. Robert Frizzell.

Parks Canada employees, along with RCMP officers from detachments in Jasper, Lake Louise, Banff and Rocky Mountain House, fanned out and searched the surrounding area.

"They’ll do a ground search. The initial approach will be along the trail to try and locate his campsite," Frizzell said.

Authorities will also search from the air, and RCMP investigators will examine Darda’s truck.

The truck was intact and there were no signs of a struggle or indications of foul play, Frizzell said.

Frizzell stressed authorities need the public to stay out of the area while the search is being conducted.

Darda’s mother, Darlene, filed a missing-person report with police last Thursday after learning he didn’t show up for the beginning of classes at the University of Alberta.

Darda was supposed to be starting his fourth year in the Edmonton school’s engineering program.

Officials said Darda enjoys camping, but wasn’t an avid outdoorsman.

It’s believed Darda took only a small tent and an axe to Jasper, but no other supplies for an extended trip. He made the solo excursion after some friends cancelled on a planned group outing.

In his text message, Darda told friends it was too dark to set up his tent when he arrived at his campsite and that he planned to sleep in his truck.

When searchers found the vehicle, Darda’s tent and axe weren’t in it, leading police to believe he may have set up camp at some point.

jvanrassel@theherald.canwest.com