Missing camper found alive in White Mtns of Calif

[profdant139]

Great news for those of us who have been following this story:

Found!

Last Friday, she and her husband had just pulled into either Grandview Campground or a nearby boondocking site -- the accounts are inconsistent. This is in the Bristlecone area, east of Big Pine. She hopped out of the car to take her small dog for a quick walk and just disappeared. Four days without food or water at 8000 feet.

I hope that after she recovers, she can let us all know what happened. This person is a very experienced camper and boondocker -- did she get lost? Or was there some sort of threat that caused her to run and become disoriented?

If it can happen to her, it can happen to almost anyone -- so that is why I would like to know what went wrong and how to avoid the problem.

This story resonated very strongly with me -- these folks are almost carbon copies of many of us on this forum -- avid campers and hikers, active seniors, adventurous but prudent travelers. What a sense of relief to hear that she is ok!!

[ReneeG]

Unless she made it up and I'm not saying that's what happened.

[ependydad]

ReneeG wrote:
There hasn't been any other update on this news.

There likely won't be. It's rare that news circles back around on these kinds of stories.

[ReneeG]

I watched the news story of her in the hospital and her explanation of the man threatening her. She described it lightly which I thought was strange, but then everyone reacts differently in certain situations. I wonder if there was a health issue involved, like the onset of dementia or Alzheimer's. There hasn't been any other update on this news.

[profdant139]

As far as I know, it has not been confirmed. But the witness/victim in this case seems very credible, given everything we know about her and her husband. So I am suspending my usual cynical disbelief and am waiting for further developments.

[ependydad]

profdant139 wrote:
and then some crazy criminal chased her with a knife!

Has that been confirmed? I know I read that's what the family thought.

[profdant139]

I'm all about self-sufficiency and self-rescue, but gosh -- she just stepped out to walk the dog, not take a hike -- and then some crazy criminal chased her with a knife! Do you take a GPS to walk your dog? If so, what kind of a dog do you have??

If she were some random city slicker, I would be skeptical of her story and would suspect that alcohol was involved. But she is a very experienced outdoors-person (and a dedicated boondocker). So I'm reluctant to play the "coulda-woulda-shoulda" game in this case. From what I know so far, she was the victim of bad luck.

[ppine]

delete

[philh]

colliehauler wrote:
Wouldn't a hand held GPS to guide you back to your starting point be in order?

so would a personal emergency locator beacon

[colliehauler]

Wouldn't a hand held GPS to guide you back to your starting point be in order?

[ppine]

Updates to this story confirm that this 60 yo woman from LA was confronted by a man with a knife at the restroom. He threatened to kill her dog and made sexual advances. She took off and got lost for 3 days. Still sounds very peculiar.

[monkey44]

If you are day-hiking on trails, carry a colored ribbon with you - when you come to any fork or trail separation, tie a piece of it on a tree branch, or place tip under a rock - when you return, find the ribbon and your way, and take it out with you ... very light, doesn't add to weight you carry, and might save a life.

Might not work always, or even be appropriate for every occasion, like walking a dog, but you never know ... and of course, doesn't deter foul play, but will give any family or rescuers a "start search" heading if nothing else.

[ppine]

Glad she is okay. The White Mtns are very unforgiving. I agree that it is a strange story that is not logical. Who takes a stroll and gets lost for 4 days? It is very open country and easy to stay found. Something is up with this story.

[profdant139]

The story is that she wasn't really "hiking" -- she was just walking the dog after a long car ride.

But we are just going to have to wait. Regardless, this is a good day.

[philh]

A friend that's involved in search and rescue, said she wandered out to go hiking. she did not take a phone or even water. Said she wasn't even appropriately dressed for hiking. He made no mention of a knife.