KANE COUNTY, Utah, Sept. 5, 2016 (Gephardt Daily) — A 72-year-old man who went missing one week ago after leaving for a hike in Glen Canyon National Recreation Area has been found safe and in good health.
The man, who is from Richfield, told a friend he was going on a day hike to explore the Hole in the Rock area of Glen Canyon Aug. 29, according to a press release from Glen Canyon and Kane County Sheriff’s Office.
When he didn’t return home on time, his friend contacted Sevier County Sheriff’s Office on Sept. 2.
Park rangers found the man’s car, as well as his entry in the trail registry, at the Willow Creek Trailhead.
“This hiker’s life was saved by a call from a concerned friend,” said Alan Alldredge, chief deputy at Kane County Sheriff’s Office.
“Hiking with a friend, and letting someone know specifically where you plan to hike, and when you plan to return, can make the difference between life and death.”
The National Park Service, the Utah Department of Public Safety, the Bureau of Land Management and Kane County Sheriff’s Office were all deployed to search for the missing hiker.
A helicopter spotted the hiker Sunday at approximately 2 p.m., two-and-a-half miles southwest of the trailhead where he started hiking.
The man was found dehydrated and sunburned, but otherwise in good health, said the news release.
He was taken by helicopter to Escalante for medical treatment.
