According to park spokeswoman Nancy Gray, Ross Sabin Enderle, 26, of Pontiac, Mich., and his three hiking companions had stayed Friday night at Icewater Spring Shelter, roughly 3 miles east of Newfound Gap along the Appalachian Trail.
When members of the group awoke on Saturday morning and tried to arouse Enderle, he was unresponsive. One of the hikers contacted E-911 by a cell phone and park rangers were notified around 7:45 a.m.
When rangers arrived at the shelter at 9:14 a.m., Enderle showed no signs of life.
The man was taken to Harris Regional Hospital in Sylva, N.C.
Authorities are awaiting results from an autopsy and a toxicology report. Rangers are continuing an investigation to determine the cause of death but preliminary findings indicate there was no foul play.
Jeff
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