A hiker who became lost on the Appalachian Trail was guided back to safety late Saturday night.
Volunteers with the Greeneville Emergency & Rescue Squad and the Greene County Sheriff’s Department were dispatched just after 8 p.m. to Viking Mountain after the woman called for help.
Authorities said the hiker had been on the trail since about 3 p.m. when she encountered rocky terrain and chose to turn back onto a side path. She became disoriented and unsure of her direction of travel. The Appalachian Trail splits in that area, with one route following the ridgeline and another, known as the “bad weather trail”, offering a less steep and rocky option. Rescuers located the woman roughly a half-mile from the trail divide. She was escorted back to the parking area, and the group returned safely around 11 p.m. No injuries were reported.
