Clarkston hiker found asleep, rescued

A Clarkston man who reportedly became too intoxicated to hike out of a canyon along the Snake River was located by deputies and brought out of the canyon at about 9:30 p.m. Wednesday, Oct 27, three hours after deputies received the missing person report. The report by Deputy Sgt. Chris Chapman, said they found the hiker, Benny F. Elder, 37, sleeping. He had sustained scrapes and abrasions.

According to the report, Elder and two other hikers started up the canyon after they parked along Wawawai Road about three miles downstream from Wilma. All three had reportedly been drinking heavily as they hiked up the canyon. When they started to descend the canyon, Elder told the other two he was too intoxicated to keep hiking. With darkness approaching, the other two continued to hike out of the canyon and called for help.