OKEECHOBEE COUNTY, FL--Deputies with the Okeechobee County Sheriff's Office are investigating the death of a hiker who was found along the Florida Trail in the northern part of the county Monday.
Investigators say other hikers discovered the victim near Highway 98 and Lofton Road. He was only wearing cargo shorts, a t-shirt and a light windbreaker.
Authorities are looking into the possibility that the hiker's death could be cold weather related.
Detectives believe the young man, whom they have not identified, was outside since Saturday night when temperatures dropped below freezing.
Investigators say he was hiking alone in an area where the trail sometimes becomes swampy.
The Okeechobee County Sheriff's Office did not receive any reports of a missing person.
"It's always good to have a partner with you. It's always good to let people know where you're going to be, which trails you're going to be hiking on. When you will be calling in," said Detective Ted Van Deman with the Okeechobee County Sheriff's Office.
The sheriff's office says the victim is from out of state, but is a card-carrying member of the "Florida Trail Association."
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