Posted on 03/10/2012 10:10:53 AM PST by martin_fierro
Missing hiker found with cat in New Mexico forest
Published March 10, 2012
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Snuggling in a blue sleeping bag, Margaret Page and her cat survived 3 1/2 weeks in a rugged New Mexico national forest, even though temperatures dropped below freezing nearly every night.
Family members reported her missing Feb 14. But for various reasons, authorities didn't start searching for her until this week. The 41-year-old Page, who has a history of mental illness, was found Wednesday emaciated and malnourished but well-hydrated.
Relying on a creek for drinking water, Page and her cat named Miya lived on just a handful of supplies, rescue workers said Friday. The nearest town -- tiny Dusty, N.M. -- was 10 miles away.
"Her cat was in better shape than she was," said Marc Levesque, New Mexico State Police Search and Rescue incident commander. "Her cat was also hunting. (Page) ran out of food a while back."
Page apparently purposefully hiked off a trail between Feb. 10 and Feb. 12. A Forest Service law enforcement agent spotted her silver Chevy passenger car on Feb. 12, but didn't think much of it because hikers leave vehicles near trails all the time, said Lt. Robert McDonald, a spokesman for the state police.
Another Forest Service agent noticed the car on Feb. 25 but didn't contact state police until 10 days later. Members of the Grant County Search and Rescue and other crews began the search for Page on Tuesday after her family notified state police that Page's car had been found at a campground.
She was found the following day about a mile up the Railroad Canyon Trail in an area known as the Black Range.
-- snip --
(Excerpt) Read more at foxnews.com ...
A Sad Tale
A cat in despondency sighed,
And resolved to commit suicide;
..She passed under the wheels
..Of eight automobiles,
And under the ninth one she died.
Rest in peace, sweet kittie.
Who doesn’t go hiking with their cat?
Looks like Wasserman-Slutz with AIDS...
Poor Kitty.
There wasn't enough seats on the last bus to the polls, so the DNC gave her a driver's license instead. /s
That’s a pretty cool cat that woman has. I really have to wonder what the authorities were doing, not looking for her, towing her car, etc. I understand this woman has problems, but that really doesn’t make a difference. She could have been injured, etc. problems or no.
I’m glad they are both OK.
Humans are not at the top of the food chain there.
If you wanted to take animals in there, you should make them a string of horses, another human or two and maybe a dog.
A kitty-cat is only bait for the cougars, wolves and bears. Horses, humans and dogs will at least give you a heads-up.
That chick had a death wish.
R U Series? Ever Been to NY, Calif or Florida?
With all due respect, you really don't know much about mental illness, do you? My son has a mental illness and he has a drivers license. I'll just leave my comments at that.
Yup. She sure looks like it....
~~~
I didn’t know much about it either until I started watching the debates.
millions of liberals have drivers licenses...
I weep for your self-importance. How’s that.
I was recently discussing the cats vs dogs things with a co-worker. One of my arguments was that “you can’t really take a cat backpacking.” I guess I’ll have to recant that argument.
I don't really give a crap what you think of me.
LOL!
My apologies to anyone who I offended, it’s just that this is a topic that hits very close to home and unless you have been in these shoes, t;s hard to understand. It was not my intention to be “self-important” or to offend anyone. Moderators, feel free to delete my posts in this thread.
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