'Alone on pretty steep terrain': Missing Aussie hiker found dead in Canada wilderness

Brisbane woman Julia-Mary Lane has been found dead after appearing to slip and fall on steep terrain while hiking in the Canadian wilderness.

Royal Canadian Mounted Police Corporal James Grandy told 9news.com.au it appeared the 25-year-old had lost her footing on "pretty steep terrain" while hiking alone after travelling to British Columbia for a week-long road trip.

Two days before all communications went silent, Lane posted in a local Facebook group on June 8 requesting advice on trails and seeking company, saying she was "comfortable hiking solo but would prefer to go with a group to minimise bear risk" and that she was "fine with steep elevation and scree".

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Lane explained that she was visiting from Canmore, around 170km north in Alberta, and "would love to join any moderate to challenging hikes" any fellow hikers had planned.

"I have been hiking in Canmore and surrounding national parks the past few months so am fairly experienced, love a scramble, fine with steep elevation and scree, can go at a decent pace, and quite like to trail run down on the odd occasion."

Today, as news of Lane's death emerged, outdoors enthusiasts in that Facebook group expressed their sorrow.

"You left this world doing what filled your heart and fed your passions," a woman called Cass Fox posted.

"May you rest in Paradise."

Another woman commented, "So sad was hoping for a better outcome for the family and friends."

Lane's disappearance had been flagged by a housemate when she failed to come back from walking Bear Lake Trail, near the town of Kimberley in Canada's east.

This morning Lane's brother Conor said she had been found dead "in an unfortunate hiking accident".

"We have lost our beautiful baby girl, Julia-Mary RIP, in an unfortunate hiking accident," a family statement posted to social media said.

Her body was found by a search and rescue team late Monday evening (local time), Grandy said.

"She was alone, it appears, and just on some pretty steep terrain," he said.

"It looks like it was accidental."

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Janet Hamilton, Lane's housemate in Canada, contacted the Australian woman's family after she failed to return from Bear Lake, an area popular with outdoor adventurers.

She described Lane as "a truly beautiful soul".

Lane's family had grown increasingly worried since Saturday, the last day she had responded to any phone calls or messages.

The Lane family contacted Royal Canadian Mounted Police and they found her car, a Ford Escape SUV, at the Bear Lake Trail head.

Deploying dogs, drones and search and rescue teams, police conducted a large search.

Police are not treating her death as suspicious, and the matter has now been referred to the BC Coroner Service.

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"Thank you everyone in this wonderful community for all your help and support over the past two days in the search for Julia-Mary," Lane's friend Hamilton said.

"I feel honoured to have spent time with [Julia-Mary] this past week, as she was a joy to be around," she said.

Lane relocated to Canada from Brisbane in January.

The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade told 9news.com.au in a statement it is providing assistance to the family of an Australian woman who died in Canada.

"We send our deepest condolences to the woman's family and loved ones," the spokesperson said.

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