89-year-old hiker rescued after surviving over a week in Idaho’s wilderness

CUSTER COUNTY, Idaho – An 89-year-old man is back home recovering after going missing for more than a week while hiking in Idaho. 

Bing Olbum left from the Hunter Creek Trailhead on August1 and never reached the exit point of the Mcdonald Creek Area, the Custer County Sheriff’s Office said. The trailhead is located within the Salmon-Challis National Forest. 

Officials said that search and rescue units were deployed and searching all possible trails for Olbum.

Authorities said his camp was found on August 10. The next day, they searched on horseback and located him. 

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“Bing’s will to survive has resulted in an unbelievably good ending to this incident,” authorities said in a Facebook post. “We hope that his recovery is swift, and he will be enjoying time with his family and friends.”

The Salmon–Challis National Forest spans over 4.3 million acres in east-central Idaho, according to the U.S. Forest Service. The Hunter Creek Trailhead is located north of Boise.

“The trail follows the creek to the head of the canyon where the switchbacks become steeper and a little more difficult,” reads a description of the trail on the U.S. Forest Service website. “At the top, the timber clears and visitors have a clear view of Mount Ryan (11,714 feet) and Kent Peak.”