Gallup hiker rescued after 23 hours

By Leslie Wood
Staff Writer

GALLUP — A missing Gallup hiker walked for nearly 23 hours along an unfamiliar dirt road on Sunday night as snow and ice blanketed the area before he was driven to safety by a local couple.

Police issued a statewide alert on Monday in an attempt to find the 36-year-old man who most likely left his home for a mid-afternoon hike.

Mike Miller was last seen on Sunday at about 4:30 p.m. as he drove from his residence in the 900 block of east Buena Vista

Rebecca Miller said her husband routinely travels to the McGaffey area to hike and to go four-wheeling. However, she was not certain of where he traveled on the day of his disappearance.

"I expected him back after a couple of hours," Rebecca Miller said on Monday. "I'm just not sure of what road he took ... but if I had to guess, I would guess he was in McGaffey."

But after walking about 40 miles, Mike Miller was driven to Bluewater by a couple and then taken home by a state police officer at about 4 p.m.

Mike Miller said he lost his original location after he followed some elk through the McGaffey area.

"I wasn't prepared for the wet and cold," the Montana native said. "It was pretty miserable."

Miller said he tried to create a shelter, but that he had to keep moving to avoid freezing.

During his walk along County Road 50, Miller found an abandoned vehicle that was stuck in a snowy embankment. Miller said, fortunately, the driver left the keys inside the unlocked vehicle and he was able to dry his clothes and rest for a brief amount of time.

"I want to thank whoever's car that was," Miller said. "It probably saved my life ... but at the same time, I want to apologize for using the car."

Miller said he was not prepared for the elements and had no gloves, matches or any survival gear during the ordeal.

Miller said he is sore from the walk, but that he did not sustain any irreperable harm. The Millers have lived in the Gallup area since December. Rebecca Miller said she contacted the Gallup Police Department concerning Miller's disappearance and that a statewide alert was issued to law enforcement personnel. However, a search was not conducted because Miller could not determine a specific area where her husband might be.