70 Year Old Hiker Missing In The Smokies

[TOW]

http://yoursmokies.blogspot.com/2009...eat-smoky.html

[Tripod]

Very interesting, I stayed at the Mt. Laconte shelter Monday night. I was called by a ranger today (8/28) and asked several questions about the missing hiker who was supposed to stay at the same shelter with me on Monday. Unfortunately I didn't see him. I ended up spending the night by myself (if you don't count the bear that wondered around the shelter for THREE hours!) I certainly hope Mr. Briggs is ok.

[warraghiyagey]

Agreed. . . best thoughts out to Mr. Briggs. . . .

[modiyooch]

Very interesting, I stayed at the Mt. Laconte shelter Monday night. I was called by a ranger today (8/28) and asked several questions about the missing hiker who was supposed to stay at the same shelter with me on Monday. Unfortunately I didn't see him. I ended up spending the night by myself (if you don't count the bear that wondered around the shelter for THREE hours!) I certainly hope Mr. Briggs is ok.

that should narrow the search area for them

[modiyooch]

Missing Pigeon Forge hiker found 'alive and well'

http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2009/au...n-forge-hiker/

[Midway Sam]

Missing Pigeon Forge hiker found 'alive and well'

http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2009/au...n-forge-hiker/

**WOOHOO**

[johnnybgood]

This is great news . I suppose we will hear more details on why he was over due .

[Blissful]

Good news.

[Tripod]

Never met Mr. Briggs but would like to.

[hikingshoes]

Great,glad he's ok..

[Ox97GaMe]

I know Morgan. Met him at Icewater a couple weeks ago. We were planning a trip over to Kephart Shelter next week to look at a bridge crossing that was starting to wash out. Im sure he is doing ok. Probably just got turned around a bit while bush whacking up to the ridgeline. Im sure he will have some good stories to tell when I see him.

[Trillium]

I am grateful that he was found, apparently safe and sound. Looking forward to more details tomorrow.

[High Altitude]

Maybe he just changed his mind with respect to where he wanted to hike. The permit system there is stupid. Backpacking is not about a strict schedule of where you are going to sleep every night.

[TOW]

cool!

[Marta]

Maybe he just changed his mind with respect to where he wanted to hike. The permit system there is stupid. Backpacking is not about a strict schedule of where you are going to sleep every night.

I rather doubt that. He would know his family would start a search for him when he didn't return on schedule. I doubt he would do something like that on a whim.

[modiyooch]

Maybe he just changed his mind with respect to where he wanted to hike. The permit system there is stupid. Backpacking is not about a strict schedule of where you are going to sleep every night.

no, but at this point it led to an earlier discovery. Although, I tend to backpack alone; it's not the best scenario from a safety viewpoint. I'm only speculating, but it sounds like he did run into some kind of trouble early into his hike and has just hunkered down until he was found.

[modiyooch]

from a winston salem article:

Briggs was stuck on a ridge line in rugged terrain at about 5,100 feet and can't go up or down. He has set up camp, including a yellow tent.
The helicopter dropped him food and water and a portable radio.
Miller said that rescuers were running out of daylight yesterday and would try to reach him today.

[bigcranky]

More info in my local paper this morning:

http://www2.journalnow.com/content/2...ld-backpacker/

[modiyooch]

actually, there is a reporter/hiker, Christopher Hibbard, that has hiked to a vantage point overlooking Porter Mt and is twittering the rescue operations.

he had a very informative article last night. article and blogspot can be found here

http://yoursmokies.blogspot.com/2009...ntains_29.html

[chief]

in another jurisdiction he probably would be considered negligent and presented with a large bill for his rescue.