From: http://www.wchstv.com/newsroom/wv/news6.shtml
Also see: http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/10/15/missing.hiker.ap/index.html

Autistic hiker missing in Dolly Sods Wilderness
October 15, 2007 9:42 AM

ELKINS, W.Va.

Search crews are out in the Dolly Sods Wilderness today looking for an autistic hiker who has been missing since 2:30 yesterday afternoon.

Eighteen-year-old Jacob Allen of Morgantown was hiking with his parents, Jim and Karen Allen, when he got ahead of them and didn't answer when they called out his name.

While Allen is described by his mother as severely autistic, he is in good shape physically and likes to hike. The public information officer for the command post, Chris Stadelman, says the family visits Dolly Sods a couple times a year.

The five-foot-six, 120-pound Allen was wearing a long-sleeved T-shirt, a wind jacket and wind pants and hiking boots in the forest, where overnight temperatures dropped to as low as 38 degrees.

More than two dozen emergency responders and citizens from Randolph, Tucker, Grant and Barbour counties were participating in the search, which also was to include two search dogs and a National Guard helicopter.

The primary search area consists of about 4 miles of sometimes steep and brush-covered terrain.

Another news article http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5iAMqzN5MVUP5W2xvpdifTvBRzRvQD8S9M6H01 says he has the mental age of a three-year-old. So, by all means, let him out of your sight!

I hope it turns out better than I expect.

sue

He has been found alive! No details yet.

A few new details here.

They found him.

http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory?id=3749994