Update: Lost hikers found unharmed

Rangers with the Great Smoky Mountains National Park said three hikers who got lost Monday afternoon have been found.

Rangers are leading them back to the Abrams Falls Trail. Authorities said they are doing well and will be home by Monday night.

The hikers called park rangers Monday afternoon to say they were lost. All three were healthy, but uncertain of their location.

Park spokesman Bob Miller said the trio of hikers, two young men and a young woman, got off the Abrams Falls Trail on the west end of Cades Cove.

At that point, they apparently got lost.

They were able to call with a cell phone around 3 p.m. Monday afternoon to say they were lost.

Rescuers planned to search until nightfall on Monday, then resume searching Tuesday morning.

The three hikers said the ranger who found them was determined not to let them spend the night out in the cold.