COLUMBIA -- South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford has been hiking the Appalachian Trail, a spokesman said Monday, explaining a dayslong absence that perplexed fellow state leaders.

Sanford hadn't been at work for several days and his office hadn't been in touch with him. Lawmakers and his wife said Monday they didn't know where he was, leading critics to question who was in charge of South Carolina.

"I cannot take lightly that his staff has not had communication with him for more than four days, and that no one, including his own family, knows his whereabouts," said Lt. Gov. Andre Bauer.

Sanford spokesman Joel Sawyer said Sanford left town on Thursday with plans to hike the Appalachian Trail. He said he didn't know where exactly Sanford was Tuesday night and declined to discuss Sanford's travel arrangements or who, if anyone, was hiking with him.

"He's just up there to kind of clear his head after the legislative session," Sawyer told The Associated Press in an interview.

Sawyer said it's not the first time Sanford has been in an area where he's difficult to reach, noting that if there's an emergency situation, the office would consult with other state officials before making any decisions.

"He's an avid outdoorsman," Sawyer said. "Nobody's ever accused our governor of being conventional."

First lady Jenny Sanford said earlier Monday she had not spoken with her husband for several days -- and that includes Father's Day. The Sanfords have four sons.

"He was writing something and wanted some space to get away from the kids," Jenny Sanford told The Associated Press while vacationing at the family's Sullivans Island beach house. She said she didn't know where he was, but wasn't concerned.

A message left for Jenny Sanford wasn't immediately returned after the governor's hiking plans were disclosed.

Law enforcement officials who handle his security declined to comment and Sawyer wouldn't say whether Sanford had a security detail with him. Sanford is known for taking walks and runs without security, but flight logs show he seldom leaves the state without it.

Sanford typically is open about his whereabouts, and his office makes no secret of time spent on vacation or out of state.

But politicians, including the lieutenant governor, said they did not know Sanford was taking time away from his office. Bauer said he had not been put in charge.

State Sen. Tom Davis, a Beaufort Republican, Sanford confidante and former chief of staff, said his calls to Sanford were going straight to voice mail. Calls from The Associated Press to the governor's cell phone also went to voice mail.

Sanford's critics were quick to criticize the governor.

"It's one thing for the boys to go off by themselves, but on Father's Day to leave your family behind? That's erratic," said Senate Minority Leader John Land, D-Manning.

Sanford's unannounced absence was a cause for concern because the National Guard and the state's top law enforcement agencies report to him, Land said.

"And when those officials can't get in touch with the commander, it's really weird. That's not responsible," he said.

Sen. Jake Knotts, a Lexington Republican and a persistent Sanford critic, said the state needs to know where its governor is.

"The way things are in the world today and homeland security, we need the governor to be fingertips away," Knotts said. "Somebody's got to be in charge."

Associated Press Writers Bruce Smith in Sullivans Island and Michael R. Baker in Raleigh, N.C., contributed to this report.

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