Morgan Briggs planned a four-day backpacking trip that would take him off trail into a rugged part of Smoky Mountains National Park. Dense vegetation and downed trees pointed him into sheer bluffs on day 2, and he became lost. He made his way out and hiked to a high point where he pitched his tent, rationed his Spam, set up rainwater collectors, and waited for rescue. A contract helicopter pilot spotted Briggs waving his arms on top of Porters Mountain on Saturday afternoon. They dropped Briggs a radio and he told them it wasn’t a medical emergency, so they made plans to come back for him the next day.

Turns out that Briggs was one of the first Appalachian Trail Ridge Runners in the Smokies. He served as the park’s eyes and ears along the 70 miles that run through it. Also, 70 really isn’t that old; I bet the photographer from Knox News begged him to get into that rocking chair.

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