Stephen Lam was enjoying a hike on Coquitlam's Crystal Falls trail Saturday when he spotted a man known to take that love of nature one step further.
Lam told The Tri-City News he had walked to the top of the waterfall when he noticed another trail continuing up the hill and figured he'd explore. Along the way, he discovered what appeared to be someone's camp, including a large tarp and the remains of a camp fire.
"As I walked further ahead, I noticed some movement," Lam said. "He was basically hiding and was asking me whether there was anybody right behind me."
Once the man knew the other hikers were down by the waterfall, he emerged naked from his hiding spot.
"There was a bit of awkwardness," Lam said, adding he told the man it was a public trail before he continued on his own hike.
A couple minutes later, Lam realized the man was hiking right behind him fully clothed and said he wanted to check where the trail led.
Lam's description of the man in his mid 20s, about 5'9" tall with dark brown hair matched those of three other people who spotted a man in the nude walking the same trail in January.
At the time, Coquitlam RCMP said the man hadn't threatened or spoken to anyone but they wanted to know why he was out in the cold with no clothes on. Police also said that witness accounts did not indicate drugs or mental health issues were factors.
Lam said the man appeared surprised that anyone was on that upper portion of the trail and that he seemed like "just a regular guy doing his own thing, but next time... maybe do it at [Vancouver's] Wreck Beach."
@spayneTC
