FLAGSTAFF – At 8:30 pm on Thursday, the Coconino County Sheriff’s Office dispatched deputies to investigate a report of an overdue hiker on the Kachina Trail. The 55-year-old male was reportedly conducting a day hike with his dog along the Kachina Trail. He was reported overdue by his girlfriend when he did not return by late afternoon as expected.

Coconino County Sheriff’s Search and Rescue Unit members responded to the location and conducted search operations throughout the evening. During the search they located clues indicating the path he had traveled near the Weatherford Trail. Search operations continued into the early morning hours this morning. The hiker was able to self-extricate and contacted the Sheriff’s Office.

Interviewing the hiker revealed that he had become disoriented while on the Weatherford Trail as the result of white-out conditions and had taken shelter until daylight.

The Coconino County Sheriff’s Office and our Search and Rescue Unit would like to remind hikers and hunters to leave a detailed trip plan with a trusted person and be prepared for the unexpected night out in the event of an accident or other emergency.

They also recommend that you carry these Essentials:

• extra water and food
• warm clothing
• compass or GPS
• headlamp or flashlight
• first aid kit
• shelter material
• fire starting kit
• pocket knife
• signaling equipment like a signal mirror and whistle.

These can be important tools to help you stay safe in the outdoors and to aid searchers in locating you.