SNOQUALMIE PASS, Wash. — A man who was supposed to be back from a hike in the Denny Creek area of the Cascades Sunday night was found safe Tuesday evening.
John Smith, 43, went hiking near near Kaleetan Peak on Sunday. Investigators say he texted a friend that he was on Kaleetan Peak around 3:30 p.m. on Sunday. He was supposed to return that night.
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King County sheriff's officials confirmed Tuesday evening he was found safe and would be examined medically. By Tuesday night, Smith had been cleared to return home.
He was described as "tired, cold, dehydrated and hungry" by search and rescue officials.
A friend earlier found his Ford Escort parked at the Denny Creek trailhead -- on Monday morning -- and called the King County Sheriff's Office.
Search and rescue volunteers from Seattle Mountain Rescue began searching Monday. On Tuesday, over 50 volunteers from King County Search and Rescue, Seattle Mountain Rescue, Olympic Mountain Rescue and Pierce County Explorer Search and Rescue scoured the area.
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Investigators thought it was possible Smith got disoriented in the fog on Sunday and came down the back side of Kaleetan Peak. If he did, he would have needed to hike 20 miles to get to the Middle Fork of the Snoqualmie, which would have meant exiting the Cascades near Mount Si.
King County's Guardian One helicopter also assisted in the search.
Smith is from Bonney Lake. He works at the Amazon Fulfillment Center in Sumner. He has five children. His friends told KIRO 7 he has hiking experience.
Loved ones hoped his experience and equipment would keep him safe until help arrived.
[ KIRO 7's Henry Rosoff is near the trailhead and is working on the story for KIRO 7 News at 11 p.m. ]