LA Hiker Recounts Days He Was Stranded In Desert

LOS ANGELES (AP) — A man lost for six days in the barren Joshua Tree desert said he survived by staying still, moving only to follow the shade.

At a news conference Tuesday, 64-year-old Edward Rosenthal said he was so weak when a helicopter rescue crew found him on Sept. 30 that he couldn't even sit up. Before that, he says he used a walking stick to lift himself up and out of the sun a few times each day.

His ordeal started Sept. 24 when he went for a day hike but became disoriented after making a wrong turn while returning to his car.

Hiker Calls Rescue "Miracle": KNX 1070's John Brooks Reports

A poet without paper, he wrote on his hat what he thought would be his last messages of love to his wife and daughter and plans for his funeral, including names of the pallbearers and food he wanted served.

(© Copyright 2010 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)