A wildlife photographer who planned to spend the winter living in a remote trailer in the wilderness of northeastern B.C. narrowly escaped starving to death after he failed to pack enough provisions.

Hudson's Hope RCMP say the 42-year-old man was trapped for more than two weeks without food in the Carbon Creek area near Williston Lake.

Police and rescue volunteers found the hungry man on Feb. 1, about 36 kilometres from the W.A.C. Bennett Dam, according to Hudson's Hope RCMP Cpl. Darren Woroshelo.

'He'd been without food for, I believe, 17 days.'—RCMP Cpl. Darren Woroshelo

"He'd misjudged the amount of provisions he'd need to make it through the winter. He'd been without food for, I believe, 17 days," said Woroshelo.

Driven by hunger, the unidentified man attempted to snowshoe out by himself along the rough roads he used to get the trailer in during the summer.

"He made it several kilometres, but then was just too weak and he couldn't continue and made it back to his trailer," said Woroshelo.

Unable to escape the icy wilderness, the man lived on water melted from snow until he was finally able to signal his distress to a passing helicopter, which left him some food, and notified Hudson's Hope RCMP.

"He did have a good supply of heat and water, which I'm sure is what kept him alive for those 17 days," said Woroshelo.

Rescued by snowmobile

Once notified of his plight, the RCMP and some volunteers launched a rescue mission by snowmobile to bring him out.

"He seemed to be in good spirits and, of course, he was happy to see them," said Woroshelo.

But once back in town the man refused medical treatment and asked to be taken to a local restaurant and then a motel instead.

"He was going to get some food, and warm up and re-nourish," he said.

The man plans to stock up on food and head back into the wilderness for the rest of the winter. But in the meantime the man has asked for privacy, and declined to speak with CBC News.