89-year-old hiker ‘unbelievably’ found safe after going missing

An 89-year-old man, who went missing while hiking in Idaho, was found after being in the wild for almost 10 days in what officials called an “extraordinary outcome.”
Bing Olbum, 89, left from Hunter Creek Trailhead, part of the Salmon-Challis National Forest, on Aug. 1 and was not recovered until after midnight of Sunday, Aug. 11, the Custer County Sheriff’s Office said in a post on Facebook.
A search and rescue operation for Olbum was launched after he failed to return to the exit point of the Mcdonald Creek area. Officials told ABC News Olbum had hiked in other areas, but this was his first time on this trail.
“Our Search and Rescue units are activated and searching the possible trails,” the sheriff’s office said last Wednesday in the Facebook post.
Olbum had five days of supplies with him, ABC News reported quoting the sheriff’s office.
The Custer County Sheriff’s Office did not immediately respond to USA TODAY’s request for more information.
After an extensive search that lasted a few days and included the participation of local residents and community members, Olbum was located around 12:30 a.m. Sunday and returned home around 3:00 a.m. the same night, the sheriff’s office shared in an update on Facebook.
“Bing’s will to survive has resulted in an unbelievably good ending to this incident,” the sheriff’s office said. “We hope that his recovery is swift, and he will be enjoying time with his family and friends.”
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Saman Shafiq is a trending news reporter for USA TODAY. Reach her at [email protected] and follow her on X and Instagram @saman_shafiq7.