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PANGUITCH, Utah (AP) -- Three hikers who were reported missing Monday when they didn't show up at the end of a four-day hike in the Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument were found stuck on a ledge, where they had to wait until morning to be rescued.
The hikers were alive and safe when they were spotted from a helicopter just before dark Monday, said Becki Bronson, spokeswoman for the Garfield County Sheriff's office.
Because of the fading light and the rugged terrain, rescuers planned to return early Tuesday and get the men off of the ledge. The men were equipped to camp for days in the canyon and temperatures were expected to be normal Monday night, so the helicopter crew told the hikers they would fly back for them at first light.
Bronson wasn't sure where in the remote area the hikers were stuck, but she had confirmed that they were all OK.
The three men, who are from Michigan, began their hike on Thursday at the Death Hollow Canyon Trail. All three are experienced hikers and were expected to have finished hiking the trail by Monday, but nobody had heard from them.
"This trail is for experienced hikers -- for people who do this often," Bronson said. "It's definitely not a simple walking trail."
The mens' names and hometowns were not released.
(Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
