A 66-year-old missing hiker on Mount Lemmon was found Thursday evening by a motorist traveling on General Hitchcock Highway near Palisades, authorities said.

Ronald Hutter, who went missing Monday, was taken to the house of a Pima County Sheriff's deputy on Mount Lemmon, said Deputy Cody Gress, a department spokesman.

Emergency medical personnel were called and Hutter was taken to St. Joseph's Hospital suffering from dehydration and minor injuries, said Gress.

Hutter was found shortly after 6 p.m.

Search and rescue workers spoke with Hutter who told them that he planned to go on a short hike on the Upper Green Mountain Trail, but got lost, Gress said.

Hutter made fires at night, and survived the three-day ordeal. Gress did not know whether Hutter had food.  

The sheriff's search and rescue team, along with the assistance of multiple law enforcement agencies, began searching for Hutter when he was reported missing. 

A co-worker of Hutter's told deputies he planned to meet Hutter on Mount Lemmon on Monday, but Hutter did not show up. 

Hutter's car was found Tuesday about 5 p.m. near milepost 17. That's near the turnoff to Rose Canyon Lake. Deputies found camping gear inside the car.


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Contact reporter Carmen Duarte at cduarte@tucson.com or 573-4104. On Twitter: @cduartestar