A 30-year-old hiker in Arizona suffered from mild stages of hypothermia after he embarked on a quest to win a free pizza.

The identity of the man has not been revealed. He took part in a contest organized by Pizzicletta pizzeria in Flagstaff. The challenges was to meet at a peak on nearby Mount Elden in exchange for a “golden ticket” that is worth one free pizza.

During the quest to the top on Tuesday morning this week, the hiker, who was wearing only shorts and a tank top, found himself stuck near the snowy summit.

The owner of the Pizzicletta, Caleb Schiff said: “We never want anyone to risk their life for pizza.” “It is certainly not worth it.”

Mr. Schiff claimed that the challenge was to encourage patrons to lead healthy, active lifestyle. He hoped that the contestants would vary of the changing weather conditions and prepare themselves accordingly.

“In truth, what we really want is people to make great decisions about their health and be active,” Mr. Schiff said.

But the Coconino County Sheriff’s Office said, the hiker raced to the summit despite heavy snow conditions.

"The weather at the time was moderate to heavy snow, with approximately 3 to 5 inches of snow on the ground," the Sheriff’s Office said in a statement.

Mr. Schiff, who was also trekking, admitted that the storm “escalated pretty quickly,” but made it to the top with a separate group.

The 30-year-old hiker called for assistance by 9 a.m., and worker for the U.S. Forest Service retrieved the hiker and brought him inside a lookout tower.

The search and rescue coordinator for the Sheriff’s Office, Sergeant Aaron Dick confirmed that the hiker was “shivering heavily and probably at mild stages of hypothermia.”

Authorities said the man was later escorted home by a friend.

Mr. Schiff continued to stage his contest in the days following the incident.

“We always encourage people not to get in over their heads, to make smart decisions,” said Mr. Schiff.

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