The Morning Call
 
ALLENTOWN, Pa. — About 35 firefighters fanned out to search for and later found a Myerstown man who had lost his way while hiking on Hawk Mountain in Albany Township on Sunday afternoon.

The man, whose name was not available but who was described as being in his early 60s, was hiking alone about 6 p.m. when his flashlight stopped working and "he ran out of daylight," said Kempton Fire Chief Matt Brett. The man used his cellular telephone to call for help, vaguely describing to firefighters where he was, Brett said.

The firefighters — from the Kempton, Lynnport and New Ringgold fire companies — divided into crews of about two or three people each to search the trails, Brett said.

Equipped with flashlights, they found the man about 8:45 p.m., Brett said.

"The one group ended up hearing him yelling and he turned out to be 100 yards off the main trail," Brett said.

The man had an ankle injury, but was able to walk, said Brett, who added that firefighters were equipped to carry him out if need be. Brett did not know how the injury happened.

"We took him to his car and off he went," Brett said.

Brett said his department typically searches for a lost hiker about once every two weeks. 

Copyright 2007 The Morning Call, Inc.
All Rights Reserved