According to source,

Two friends, a 32-year-old and a 31-year-old, and their two dogs had left the Knowles Canyon Trailhead on April 6, 2020. They became lost and the 32-year-old and the dogs fell into a canyon.

The 31-year-old had been trying to find his way out before stopping and using a lighter to set a small fire. Rescue crews say the decision to light the fire may have saved his life.

A small group of hikers marched down a newly opened canyon trail Friday, April 10, 2020 only to discover smoke signals from the 31-year-old. The group of hikers called 911 at 1:30p to report a smoke column and a unreachable person yelling from a half mile away, according to the Mesa County Sheriff’s Office.

A Centurylink helicopter carried a team of first responders to the area of Mee Canyon, about six miles southwest of Fruita on federal land. The copter crew immediately sighted the column of smoke and the lost hiker waving his arms.

Rescuers and medical personnel reached the man and found him exhausted and dehydrated, but uninjured.

Rescuers recovered the fallen hiker’s body Sunday, April 12, 2020. He had fallen 60-80 feet down a slickrock formation, according to the Mesa County Coroner’s Office. The two dogs were also found. They suffered only minor injuries.