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.
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(Excerpt) Read more at foxnews.com ...
I’d have been found well fed with fur lined socks and no idea where the cat went.
__________________
Dahmer? Is that you?
With all due respect, you shouldn’t assume that questions, like the one I asked, was asked in callous fashion. Mine was factually based, with an honest desire to know.
Also, some of us do have a fair bit of experience with mental illness that it’s not really a big deal to have one, unless the person is potentially dangerous.
Take care.
That's one way to crash diet.
I’m thinking the cat was gonna eat her....kitteh just needed a little more time
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