A fisherman apparently spent an unexpected night outside in the backcountry after failing to find his way out of the San Juan Mountains on Wednesday, said DeAnne Gallegos, San Juan County spokeswoman.

The man called for search and rescue assistance from his cellphone Wednesday evening; however, the phone battery died mid-conversation, Gallegos said.

Five search and rescue crew members looked for the man late into the night Wednesday. The man was out for fishing and unprepared to be outdoors overnight, Gallegos said.

By Thursday afternoon, a helicopter involved in the search noticed the man’s truck parked near a trailhead or parking lot was no longer there, indicating the man found his own way out and to safety, Gallegos said.

“He self-rescued himself,” she said.

No further information about the man’s identity was available Thursday.

Law enforcement and search and rescue teams from La Plata, San Juan and Dolores counties responded to the incident, Gallegos said. Montrose Helitack joined the response Thursday morning, she said.

smullane@durangoherald.com