Search initiated for missing hiker in Baxter park

By The Associated Press

BAXTER STATE PARK, Maine — The Maine Warden Service has initiated a search for a Pennsylvania man who was last heard from late last week before setting out to hike in Baxter State Park.

Officials say the man, thought to be in his 40s, was reported to be planning to hike north of Abol Bridge.

The man's pickup truck has been located along the Appalachian Trail, whose northern terminus is atop Mount Katahdin inside the park.

Officials are seeking information from the public to assist in the search. They did not identify the man.

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(AP)
Thursday, May 7, 2009 5:37 pm
The Maine Warden Service has called off a search in Baxter State Park after locating a missing hiker at his home in Pennsylvania.

Wardens began the search Thursday for 30-year-old John Meharg of Reading, Pa., four days after another hiker found an expensive backpack abandoned on a trail.

Upon investigation, officials say they located the man at his home.

The Warden Service said weather problems led Meharg to abandon plans to climb Mount Katahdin and head south on the Appalachian Trail. He then ended up on another part of the trail, fell into water and hurt himself.

Officials say Meharg left the pack on the trail and made his way to a Millinocket hospital for treatment. He then took a cab to Bangor, rented a car and drove home.

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cushetunk said:

Well this makes it quicker to run through the typical stages of "lost hiker" grief.

Stage 1: Gosh, I bet it is really cold and rainy and buggy up there. I hope this poor man is okay.

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cushetunk said:

Well this makes it quicker to run through the typical stages of "lost hiker" grief.

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On Monday, a Brewer resident contacted authorities to report that they had found an expensive backpack left on the Appalachian Trail west of Abol Bridge.

Park rangers investigated the report and discovered the backpack. Upon further investigation they came to the conclusion that it belonged to a hiker named John Meharg of Reading, Pennsylvania.

When investigators contacted Meharg's family, they discovered that he was at his home in Pennsylvania.

While Mr. Meharg initially denied leaving his backpack behind, he later admitted that the backpack was his.

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