A missing 66-year-old hiker was found with minor injuries near Palisades after 3 days.
Ronald Hutter was last seen on Monday and was found by a motorist on General Hitchcock Highway just before 6 p.m. tonight.
Authorities say he has minor injuries and was transported to the hospital for evaluation.
Hutter meant to go on a short hike but became lost. He survived for three days and made fires at night.
According to deputy Cody Gress, search crews started looking for him at 5 p.m. Tuesday before calling off the search Wednesday night.
Gary Geisler, a long time friend of Hutter, waited in suspense as search crews searched the trails near Mile 17 where he was last known to be hiking.
Authorities searching the area of mile 17 .. They will be here until they find Ronald Hutter. Tune in at 5&6 @kgun9 pic.twitter.com/Dc4d6jQX8v
— Jennifer Martinez (@Jennymartineztv) November 16, 2016
Hoping for a sign that his friend is found safe and alive, Geisler told KGUN 9 that "it's not like him to go off by himself."
Hutter is an experienced hiker and would never go off trail, continued Geisler.
According to the Pima County Sheriffs Office, Hutter was supposed to meet his friend for a lunch appointment on Mt. Lemmon.
When Hutter never made it to lunch, his friend went out looking for him.
Gress says his friend found his car at mile 17 and immediately called authorities.
"He had camping gear. All of his gear was inside the vehicle and he called it in as an overdue party. We responded, located the vehicle and immediately had our rescue team come out."
Friends of Hutter and the Sheriffs Department have placed notes on the vehicle pleading the hiker to contact Police immediately if he were to return from his hike.
"Ron - Where are you! By the time you get this I will have called 911. Please let us know you're OK! - Jeanne" pic.twitter.com/i3cUyWjnzW
— Jennifer Martinez (@Jennymartineztv) November 16, 2016
