Searchers have found 53-year-old Gina Chase alive and unharmed within the targeted search area.
Chase, from Victoria, Canada, was camping with a guided group near Norwood. The group set out without cellphones and was fasting to enhance their spiritual experience with nature. Chase was last seen on August 14 when she went out alone and was reported missing on August 15 when she didn’t return to camp.
Since Thursday afternoon, more than three dozen deputies and search and rescue members, along with others from various agencies, have been searching for her, according to the San Miguel County Sheriff’s Office.
We’re thrilled with this outcome and so happy for Ms. Chase and her family, said San Miguel County Sheriff Bill Masters in a Facebook post. “This success is a testament to the determination and persistence of our responders.
Chase advised the public not to venture into the wilderness alone.
You should always have communication devices with you, Masters added. And don’t starve yourself, even if a guide service suggests otherwise. Nature is indifferent to your safety and can be dangerous if you’re not properly prepared.