A hiker in the Gorman area has been found, after three days of no contact.

Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Search and Rescue at 4:30 p.m. near the area of the Cienega Campground, which is located at the end of Templin Highway, east of the Interstate 5 Freeway.

Officials say that he was dehydrated, but otherwise healthy.

The Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff Station’s Search and Rescue Team was activated late last night after a woman reported to that her boyfriend was more than 3 days overdue in returning from a planned hiking trip in the Warm Springs Mountain area of the Angeles National Forest.

The hiker, Donald Lee, age 60, of Lake Hughes had set out alone on a planned 3 day hike on Friday, June 19, 2009, and was scheduled to return Sunday.  He had a cell phone conversation with his girlfriend on Sunday indicating that he had injured his knee, but was able to lighten his pack and continue hiking.  That was the last contact with him.  His girlfriend became concerned when he did not return and she has not been able to contact him.

After receiving the call, the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Search and Rescue Team, comprised of an elite group of volunteers, formed and trained to assist the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department in search and rescue operations, converged on the area after 11:00 p.m. last night.

The operation has continued throughout the night and at first light this morning a helicopter from the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department Aero Bureau was brought into the area to assist in the search.  Deputies from the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff Station’s Off-Road Motorcycle Team also geared up this morning and headed to the area to assist in the search.    

After a countywide search and rescue notification was issued, additional resources from throughout Los Angeles County were  brought into the area to assist in the search, including deputies on all terrain vehicles from the Palmdale Sheriff’s Station, and volunteer search and rescue members from the Crescenta Valley Sheriff’s Station – Montrose Search and Rescue Team.