Hiker and dog were stranded at bottom of ravine near Smoky Mountains, rescuers say

A hiker who went missing with his dog north of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park was found stranded at the bottom of a ravine, according to the Tennessee National Guard.

The rescued played out Saturday in the 660,000-acre Cherokee National Forest, along the Tennessee-North Carolina state line.

“Shortly after 1:30 p.m. ... the Tennessee National Guard were notified that a hiker, who had been lost for nearly 24 hours, was found by rescue personnel and needed to be airlifted out of a ravine he was trapped in,” the Tennessee National Guard reported in a May 5 news release.

“The hiker was hypothermic, spending the night in the ravine wearing shorts and a t-shirt with temperatures dropping into the 40s. When rescue personnel found him, they determined it was unsafe for him and his dog to climb out of the area, even if assisted.”

A National Guard helicopter was deployed and dropped a paramedic into the ravine to do a medical assessment of the hiker and his German shepherd, officials said.

Sgt. 1st Class John Sharbel then made a special harness from webbing to lift the hiker and dog up to the helicopter, officials said.

“After just a few minutes, the hiker and three rescue personnel were hoisted over 150 feet into the Blackhawk helicopter above. Sharbel was then hoisted into the aircraft while holding the dog suspended by the specially made harness,” National Guard officials said.

“When everyone was safely on board, first aid was continued and the hiker was given fluids intravenously.”

The hiker was in stable condition when delivered to a waiting ambulance, officials said.

His name was not released. Investigators say the hiker became stranded after getting lost in the Sampson Mountain Wilderness section of Cherokee National Forest, which adjoins national forests in Virginia, North Carolina, and Georgia.

This story was originally published May 7, 2026 at 6:06 AM.