Missing hiker's body found near Angeles National Forest trail

ANGELES NATIONAL FOREST (KABC) -- The body of a missing hiker was found in steep terrain in the Angeles National Forest after a fellow hiker discovered his backpack along a trail.

According to the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, 32-year-old Kyle Benjamin Hunt of Tehachapi began a solo hike last Friday with the intention of returning on Sunday.

Sheriff's officials said a hiker spotted Hunt's backpack near the Pacific Crest Trail on Saturday. When the hiker noticed the same backpack in the same spot the next day, he opened the backpack and found an emergency phone number, which led to Hunt's mother in Kansas.

That hiker took the backpack to the LASD's Crescenta Valley station, and an immediate search was launched.

Authorities say Hunt's body was discovered around 2:20 p.m. Monday, in steep and icy terrain, approximately 500 feet below the Pacific Crest Trail. His car was parked about 12 miles away near Little Jimmy Camp, about half a mile from Angeles Crest Highway.

Sheriff's officials believe the incident was an accident. They said Hunt was reportedly an experienced and avid hiker.