An intense search for a Mayo man who was missing for four days ended Friday night when he walked out of the bush on his own, RCMP report.

RCMP Cpl. Chris Hutchings said this morning Vernon Ball, 44, was picked up on the The Silver Trail Highway at 10:30 p.m. and taken to the Mayo Health Centre by a passing motorist who recognized him.

"We spoke to Mr. Ball briefly in order to rule out any criminality element in his disappearance and are satisfied it has been ruled out at this time,” says a release issued by the detachment commander in Mayo.

"Mr. Ball appeared a little the worse for wear consistent with his time in the bush, and had been brought to the health centre to treat dehydration and as a precaution against other possible effects of his ordeal.”

Ball, who could not be reached for comment this morning, had last been seen at 8:20 a.m. last Monday, when he left to go for a walk by himself. He was reported missing just before midnight that day.

The subsequent search and rescue effort by both trained personnel and volunteers from Mayo and several other Yukon communities was intense, and word spread

quickly Friday night after he was picked up, Hutchings said.

"Put it this way: that Health Centre parking lot was standing room only when we got there,” he told the Star. "Everyone was just ecstatic, and it was a very emotional time.

"My understanding is the Mayo arts festival the next day was dedicated to Vernon and his family, and his safe return.”

Hutchings said an officer was able to talk Ball for a little longer Saturday and learned that he'd gone for a walk to be alone.

He'd intentionally crossed over to the north side of the Silver Trail, on the opposite side where his home is located in the new subdivision built by the First Nation of Nacho Nyak Dun when he got turned around.

"He came out of the bush about 10 miles south of Mayo, and he was well outside the search zone.”

Hutchings said from the interview with Ball Saturday, it sounds like he was walking in circles, and did not see any of the air traffic associated with the search effort.

The availability of water was not an issue, and Ball was eating flowers and plants, he said.

The corporal said he did have a lighter with him, so was able to build small fires.

In the last day or two, Ball was sure he was being stalked by a bear, he said.

"He was pretty tired when he came out,” Hutchings said. "He had not had a lot of sleep.”

Volunteers from the community, additional RCMP officers from Whitehorse and Dawson City and search and rescue volunteers from three other communities participated in the search.

A police tracking dog arrived last Wednesday from Fort Nelson, B.C. to assist.

Staffing and equipment were also provided by Environment Yukon and the Department of Energy, Mines and Resources, and pilots flying for Yukon Wildland Fire Management were involved.

Community members provided meals for those involved in the effort, and others provided support for the Ball family, the detachment commander pointed out this morning.

He said the First Nation of Nacho Nyak Dun brought in counsellors to assist the family.

"It was an inspiring example of a community coming together around the safety of one of their residents.”

Thanks was also expressed this morning by the RCMP, the Village of Mayo and the First Nation, of which Ball is a member

All told, said Hutchings, there were 130 volunteers involved in the search and rescue effort.