UPDATE: A Coast Guard helicopter successfully hoisted Bailey out of the drainage of Sol Duc River’s North Fork at about 6:30 p.m., Olympic National Park officials said.
He was taken to Olympic Medical Center in Port Angeles for treatment of a broken ankle.
Park officials say Bailey was smart about increasing his chances for rescue, which involved about 20 searchers starting Tuesday morning.
“He did all the right things,” said Olympic National Park Incident Commander Kristin Kirschner in a statement.
“Once he realized he would not be able to get out of the canyon under his own power, he stayed where he was, made himself as visible as possible, built a large signal fire, and waited for help.”
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PORT ANGELES — A man overdue on a hike in Olympic National Park has been found.
A park spokeswoman says Tim Bailey, 32, from Mountlake Terrace in Snohomish County has a broken left ankle.
Spokeswoman Rainey McKenna says ground searchers heard gunshots and directed a search helicopter to check them out. The helicopter found Bailey at about 3:30 p.m. today (Wednesday).
The hiker told rescuers he broke his ankle Saturday when he tumbled about 150 feet down a slope.
Despite the injury, McKenna says he is alert and oriented. Ground searchers who have food and medical equipment are with him.
The park is working to arrange a hoist operation to bring Bailey out.
He was due back Sunday from a three-day loop hike from Aurora Ridge Trailhead to the North Fork of the Sol Duc River.
His wife reported him overdue Sunday evening. His car was found at a trailhead Monday.
