Man Hikes Out Of Forest For Help

A man was found in good condition yesterday afternoon near Groveland after he spent the night hiking along snow-covered backroads in sub-freezing temperature in the Stanislaus National Forest.

Tuolumne County Sheriffs deputies report 48 year-old Byron Maxon and wife Shirley, were driving their 1991 Dodge Power Wagon truck on Forest Road 3N01 when it became stuck sometime Tuesday.

Authorities say Maxon left his wife with the truck in the Femmons Meadow area northeast of Groveland started out on foot for help.

A citizen reported seeing the disabled truck to forest officials. Foresert Service personnel then made their way to where Shirley Maxon and the truck were and called for a search and rescue effort to find her husband.

A forest service employee found Maxon around 12:30 p.m. yesterday 2-miles below Ferretti Road near Lumsden in the Tuolumne Wild and Scenic River Area.

Authorities say Maxon had hiked at least 14-miles throughout the night on forest road in elevations of around 5,000-feet.

Maxon and his wife were reunited about 1:15 p.m. yesterday afternoon. Officials say the couple appeared to be okay.