A Mountlake Terrace, Wash., man overdue on a hike in Olympic National Park has been found. A park spokeswoman says 32-year-old Tim Bailey 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. 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 on Monday.

Rescuers are searching Olympic National Park for Tim Bailey of Mountlake Terrace. The hiker was reported overdue.

Searchers are scouring the north end of Olympic National Park with hopes of finding an overdue hiker from Mountlake Terrace, park officials announced in a statement released Wednesday.

Tim Bailey, 32, planned a 3-day loop hike from the Aurora Ridge Trailhead to the North Fork of the Sol Duc. He started Sept. 24. He was reported overdue by his wife on Sunday evening.

His vehicle was located Monday morning at the Aurora Ridge Trailhead. The Olympic National Park websites warns on its website that “sections of the trail are difficult to follow. Map and compass skills are highly recommended.”

The area Bailey planned to hike are south of U.S. Route 101 and Lake Crescent at the north end of the park.

 

According to a statement released by the park a “hasty” search started Tuesday and today 12 searchers assisted by helicopter continued to comb the area.

The park says the Bailey is described as an athletic, capable hiker with overnight backpacking experience in mountainous terrain. He is 6-foot-1, 160 pounds with brown eyes, brown hair, a short beard and armband tattoos on both arms.

Olympic National Park officials request anyone who may have seen Bailey to call 360-565-3000