A Sequim hiker was reported lost was able to hike out to U.S. Forest Service Road 2780 just south of Sequim today.

The Clallam County Sheriff’s search and rescue team had conducted a search for a 59-year-old Sequim resident Roger Gates, who on Sunday, Aug. 19, was hiking in the Buckhorn Wilderness when he became disoriented and lost as a result of recent high smoke volume in the area due to forest fires.

Gates was in contact with family by phone Monday morning, sheriff’s department officials said.

Gates told family members that he was in a location known as 3 O’clock Ridge — located between the Lower and Upper Dungeness trailheads — and that he thought that he could make his way back to his vehicle. No phone contact with Gates has been made since.

Clallam County search and rescue team members conducted a search of the trail leading up to 3 O’clock Ridge on Monday evening without results and had scheduled a second search for today (Tuesday, Aug. 21) beginning at 9 a.m.

Gates, however, was located by his daughter who was driving forest service roads in the area at about 9 a.m. today.