MOUNT TABOR -- State police located a missing hiker caught in a swamp with help from resident of Mount Tabor and Danby.

On Monday at about 4:41 p.m., Vermont State Police from the Rutland Barracks, assisted by Manchester Rescue, responded to the Green Mountain National Forest Lake Trail located on South End Road in Mount Tabor for a reported missing person.

Missing was Adam Santiago, 28, of Wappingers Falls, N.Y.

At the trail head, Troopers spoke with the missing person’s hiking companion, who said the two arrived at the trail head at about 12:30 p.m. They intended to hike to Baker’s Peak, utilizing Lake Trail and Baker Peak Trail. While traversing the rugged terrain, one of the hikers became exhausted and returned to the trail head at the bottom of the mountain. The first hiker continued on to the summit.

At approximately 4:41 p.m. the hiker who had returned to the trail head became concerned that his friend that continued on had not returned and called 911.

At about 8:30 p.m. the Vermont State Police began receiving calls from residents on Norse End Road, and Troll Hill Road. The callers said they could hear a man yelling for help coming from the area south of Norse End Road on the east side of Route 7.

Troopers responded to the vicinity, where they were able to make verbal contact with him. Several local residents from Mount Tabor and Danby gathered there to help in locating the lost male. Santiago was located in a swamp by Vermont State Police and volunteers from Mount Tabor and Danby. He was screened by medical personnel and deemed unharmed.

Troopers learned Santiago hiked to Baker’s Peak, where he became disoriented and was unable to find the descending trail. He then traversed down the mountain and became stuck in mud in a swamp located at the base of the mountain. This was about 4.5 milies north of the Lake Trail trail head.

-- Mark E. Rondeau