Path: bloom-picayune.mit.edu!snorkelwacker.mit.edu!americast.com!americast.com!americast-post Newsgroups: americast.twt.metro From: americast-post@AmeriCast.Com Organization: American Cybercasting Approved: americast-post@AmeriCast.com Subject: Lost boy, 12, found near Luray Date: Tue, 10 Nov 92 15:13:22 EST Message-ID: \SE B;METROPOLITAN \SS (WS) \HD Lost boy, 12, found near Luray \BY ASSOCIATED PRESS \DT LURAY, Va. LURAY, Va. (AP) - A 12-year-old Spotsylvania County boy was found in good condition yesterday after surviving two nights of below-freezing temperatures on Old Rag Mountain by covering himself with leaves, officials said. Donald E. Wentz of Partlow disappeared about 3 p.m. Saturday when he became separated from church friends while hiking down a trail from the summit of Old Rag Mountain in Shenandoah National Park. He was found by park employee Bobby Jenkins about 11:30 a.m. yesterday on Weakley Hollow Trail about a mile from where he was last seen, said park ranger Sandy Rives. The boy suffered from minor hypothermia, had minor scrapes on his legs, and was dehydrated, but otherwise was in good condition, according to a pediatrician at the University of Virginia Medical Center. He was kept overnight at the hospital as a precaution, Ms. Rives said. Wearing jeans, a jacket and tennis shoes, Donald endured two nights of temperatures in the 20s. Ms. Rives said he slept under rocks or perhaps in small caves and covered himself with leaves to keep warm. Donald had two sodas and two chocolate bars with him, Ms. Rives said. "I think those are important factors in . . . him being in such good condition," she said. Donald ate a more substantial lunch of hamburgers and french fries yesterday, Ms. Rives said. About 90 people, a helicopter and four dogs assisted in the search yesterday. Old Rag is one of the most heavily visited areas of the park. During fall weekends, the parking lot at the foot of the mountain, the auxiliary parking lot a mile away and all available spaces along the road to the mountain are frequently filled with visitors' cars. This article is copyright 1992 The Washington Times. Redistribution to other sites is not permitted except by arrangement with American Cybercasting Corporation. For more information, send-email to usa@AmeriCast.COM