Hiker, 73, Found Alive By Rescue Teams After Going Missing For Week In The Wilderness

LA CRESCENTA (CBSLA)  — A 73-year-old hiker was found alive Saturday after he went missing for a week, Montrose Search and Rescue said.

The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department reported Eugene Jo missing last Saturday after he was separated from a group of hikers.

Related: Missing Hiker, 73, Raising Alarm Bells For Rescuers Near La Crescenta

Jo and his friends were hiking a 6-mile route near La Crescenta on Mt. Waterman.

CBS2/KCAL9's Jake Reiner said it was Jo's first hike with this particular group. The LASD is investigating how he got separated.

There was a growing concern for Jo as it was not clear what he had in the way of provisions. Officials confirmed today he had no food with him. He looked for mountain strawberries and frogs to eat but found neither.

The search was being led by LASD, but agencies from the Antelope and San Gabriel valleys were added to the search to aid in the hunt.

According to LASD Lt. Jaqueline Sanchez, "They had about 11 different search teams with about 75 searchers looking in the Angeles National Forest for Mr. Jo."

Teams were fanning out for miles in the Angeles National Forest.

"They just kept searching the different areas, they had some of the hikers go back and showed them the ground they covered and they found him today in Devil's Canyon, a few miles away from where they'd been hiking," said Sanchez.

Jo followed a creek in Devil's Canyon drinking water from it along the way.

The first thing Jo wanted after being rescued and having no food for a week? A hot meal -- immediately.

"Condition is great, he is great, alert, talking, making some jokes and having a great union right now with his family," said Janet Henderson of Huntington Hospital and LASD Search and Rescue.

Jo suffered no major injuries, only a couple of scrapes and scratches.