Hiker rescued in Upper Peninsula wilderness after signaling helicopter with flashlight

ONTONAGON, MI -- A hiker lost in the Upper Peninsula wilderness was able to find rescue by flagging down a helicopter with a flashlight.

The U.S. Coast Guard helicopter crew from Traverse City rescued the missing hiker from the Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park near Ontonagon on Saturday, Nov. 1.

The 55-year-old man was reported overdue from a hike about 10:30 p.m. after missing a planned 6 p.m. trailhead meeting with his wife, who had last seen him at noon, the Coast Guard said in a release.

Because of the rugged terrain, darkness and lack of access to a helicopter, Michigan State Police troopers requested help from Coast Guard through the Air Force.

The Traverse City helicopter crew spotted the man's fire and signaling with a flashlight. He was hoisted aboard and reunited with his family at a nearby airport

"As I understand, we were able to find him pretty quickly," said Petty Officer Christopher Yaw, a Coast Guard public affairs officer in Cleveland.

The man was not injured. The Coast Guard did not release his identity, but said the man was local to the area.

Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park is the state's only designated wilderness, according to the Michigan DNR. It is 60,000 acres of tall virgin timber, secluded lakes, rivers and streams.

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