WRIGLEY (Nov 24/97) - An American's life-long dream of winter camping in the North has ended up costing Canadian taxpayers thousands of dollars.

George Moscatello, 46, of Long Island, N.Y., set off an emergency locator beacon overnight Friday while on the second night off his solo winter camping trip outside of Wrigley.

Because his American bought device operates on a different frequency than Canadian versions, Canadian Armed Forces officials dispatched a Hercules search and rescue aircraft from Ontario, thinking the emergency beacon came from an aircraft.

Meanwhile, a party from Wrigley drove out of the community, located Moscatello and brought him into the community nursing station. The Hercules returned to Ontario, but only after it had flown as far as Ontario.

RCMP say Moscatello's tent had a hole in it from a burn and that the camper was cold and scared. Sources also said that while he had reported wolves circling his tent, no evidence of this could be found.

Moscatello had arrived in Fort Simpson last week and various people around the village, including the RCMP, told him they were concerned about his plans and lack of proper equipment.