Hiker safe after unexpected night in woods

A Glacier National Park hiker spent an unexpected night in the backcountry before rangers found him Wednesday morning.

Missing hiker Luis Lim failed to return from a day hike on the Autumn Creek Trail near Marias Pass in the southern section of Glacier National Park. 

Rangers found him near the trail at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday — safe with no serious injuries.

On Tuesday morning, Lim, 48, from Chicago and Stephen Vickery, 66, from Toronto, departed on the Autumn Creek Trail from East Glacier towards Marias Pass. 

According to park rangers, their intended destination was the Lubec Trailhead. The two men had just met that morning in East Glacier and decided to hike together. This was Lim’s first time hiking, while Vickery described himself as an experienced hiker.

Glacier National Park Dispatch received a phone call from Lim at approximately 5:40 p.m. stating he and Vickery were lost on the trail and concerned they would not make it out before dark. 

Glacier County Sheriff’s Office pinged Lim’s cell phone several times to   pinpoint their location. Glacier County deputies located Vickery on U.S.  2 at approximately 2 a.m. Wednesday.

Vickery told park rangers Lim was still in the backcountry and was  unable to continue with him due to exhaustion. 

The hikers carried water and food for the day, but were not prepared to stay overnight. 

Early Wednesday morning, five crews of Glacier National Park employees began a search for Lim on foot and horseback. He was found 3.75 miles from the Marias Pass Trailhead.

Lim was not injured, but he was cold, tired, wet, and hungry when found. 

He arrived safely at the Marias Pass Trailhead with rescuers at approximately 2 p.m. Wednesday.