Missing Trooper Slept In ‘Wet, Swampy Sleeping Bag’

A trooper who was missing in the north Cascades said he slept in a “wet, swampy sleeping bag in freezing temperatures for two nights.”

Searchers found Washington state trooper Dan Anderson "alive and in good condition," authorities told KIRO 7 Eyewitness News on Tuesday night.

"Shortly before 9 p.m., one of the ground teams reported finding Dan Anderson in the Miner’s Creek area," said a statement from Rebecca Hover of the Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office.

Anderson left the Darrington area on Friday for a hike headed toward Holden Village near Stehekin.

The trooper triggered an emergency beacon Sunday during a solo portion of a hike across the Cascade range.

A post on Anderson’s Facebook page said he “took a few tumbles tackling cloudy pass” and apparently his tent came off his rucksack.

“I arrived at my destination near Holden and when I found a (tent) site I went to the ruck and found that my (tent) was missing,” his post said.

Because of Anderson’s beacon and his extensive experience as a back country hiker, Anderson was able to survive until rescuers located him.

Anderson did not have to be hospitalized and another trooper drove him directly to his home.

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"We all know he's a tough guy -- we're learning he's even a tougher guy through this experience, we're learning a lot about him - he's a joy to have here,” said Anderson’s friend, Ryan Swobody.

On his Facebook page, Anderson joked about the experience and apologized for the worries he caused.

“Rumors of my death are of great exaggeration :) Sorry to make everyone worried,” he said.

“We're extremely thankful to everyone who was involved and the risks they took for locating him and getting him out,” said trooper Kirk Rudeen, who’s worked with Anderson for years.

KIRO 7 Eyewitness News talked to some search and rescue team members who'd found Anderson's tracks and were able to pinpoint his approximate location, finding a heat pack and the place where he'd put down some branches and presumably laid on them.

"We can’t give enough praise to the search and rescue volunteers on this mission who meticulously followed every snowshoe track, every detail to find Dan," Hover wrote. "This is a rugged, treacherous area and these people risked their lives to find him."

Previous Stories: May 17, 2011: State Trooper Missing In Cascades Believed Alive May 17, 2011: State Trooper, Former Arlington Councilman Missing In Cascades