Missing hiker found by search teams in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, NPS says

The hiker who went missing in a rugged section of Great Smoky Mountains National Park has been found, according to an update Wednesday evening from the National Park Service.

Fred Braden Jr., 56, of Powell, Tennessee, was found by search crews around 4 p.m. Wednesday, officials said in the release. He had apparently gotten lost while hiking, officials said.

“Braden did not sustain any major injuries during his overnight experience in the backcountry and rangers are currently assisting him to the trailhead for further assessment,” the release said. “No information is available at this time regarding the circumstances that led to Braden being lost.”

Relatives reported Braden missing around 7 p.m. Tuesday, after he went on a “day hike” to Indian Flat Falls off the Middle Prong Trail. The trail is in the park’s Tremont area, north of the North Carolina state line.

The park service said 30 people assisted in searching for Braden starting early Wednesday. He was found after they covered more than “20 acres of off-trail areas today along with 30 miles of park trails,” the release said.

Family members believe he was hiking alone when he went missing, according to Knoxnews.com.

Miranda Chadwell, who said Braden is her uncle, reports rangers found his vehicle at the trail head, according to a Facebook post. A fisherman reported he spoke to Braden on one of the park’s trails around 3:30 p.m. Tuesday, she said.

Middle Prong Trail is an 8.3-mile hike that follows a railroad bed past three waterfalls, according to Hikinginthesmokys.com.

It is considered “strenuous” due to a 1,140-feet increase in elevation as it progresses, the site says.

This story was originally published October 28, 2020 at 12:50 PM with the headline "Missing hiker found by search teams in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, NPS says."