Missing Hiker Was Just Taking A Nap In Kinnelon: Sheriff

KINNELON, NJ — In retrospect, it might not have been the best time to take a nap: A hiker reported missing was found mid-snooze on the side of a Kinnelon trail Tuesday night, the Morris County Sheriff's Office said.

Police say the man entered the woods about an hour before it closed, and fell asleep watching the sunset. He was located after 1 a.m. uninjured, but things could have turned out a lot worse, police warned.

The search began when Morris County Park Police found a parked car with personal items left inside of it after dark at Silas Condict Park. The man has last been seen about an hour before the park closed for the day, and hadn't come back for his car yet.

A K-9 searched the area for over an hour without picking up a scent, police said. Having already completed two other searches that day, the dog was given a rest and let the humans take over.

Around 1 a.m., officers hiked along a dirt trail and found indications that the missing hiker had gone off that way. About 20 feet later, officers saw a pair of feet and pants belonging to the missing hiker.

He had fallen asleep near a 60 foot drop down to a pond, police said.

After startling the man awake, police helped the uninjured hiker back down to the parking lot.

The man told police that he'd entered the park to watch the sunset, and fallen asleep. He'd never realized how late it at gotten— past 1 a.m. at that point, police said.

The Kinnelon Emergency Medical Squad examined the man, and he was given a ride home.

Police said it was good they'd been able to help the man out of the park; had he tried to leave on his own, it was possible he'd misstep and tumble down into the pond, officers warned.

"This search that ended happily is a perfect example of the seamless, mutual aid relationship the Morris County Sheriff’s Office has with the Morris County Park Police. While K-9 Spike was resting, the officers showed their concern by continuing their search until the driver was found," Morris County Sheriff James M. Gannon said.