Off The Beaten Path

Exhausted, he lay on the rock outcropping.  Two days ago while traversing a rocky slope he had slipped, sliding and tumbling down into the brush at the bottom, coming to an abrupt halt against the lone pine tree clinging to the cliff edge.  He awoke to excruciating pain radiating up his left leg.

A brief effort convinced him of the impossibility of climbing back up.  Now he wondered if they would find him, miles from his planned route.

As the sun beat down he heard the beat of helicopter blades, a welcomed sound to the ears of a foolish hiker.