I doubt this guys are up in that area of Manitoba. I know the area and it's very unforgiving terrain. Very unlikely that they were lost, there is just one road that goes up, actually Manitoba only has about four or five roads, they call highways over there that go North.
But if they saw the story of the Mad traper, they could want to have that adventure, or they are simply misleading police and are long gone from the area.
There where much better places to hide in Alberta or BC, or Northern Ontario, our country is just huge, why pick such an unforgiving terrain, with not much resources.