Posted on 01/15/2007 4:32:56 AM PST by nuconvert
Camper Lost in New Mexico Rescued Two Weeks After Search for Her Was Called Off
January 14, 2007
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — A camper who became stranded nearly five weeks ago in a national forest because she could not cross a swollen river was rescued Sunday, more than two weeks after the search for her was called off.
A New Mexico National Guard crew waded across the icy Gila River to rescue a dehydrated and weak Carolyn Dorn of South Carolina, who entered the Gila National Forest alone on Dec. 6 for a two-week camping trip.
Two brothers found her Friday evening while hiking, said search and rescue coordinator Frankie Benoist of Silver City.
"They were walking along the river and heard a call for help," she said. "They would not have seen her if she had not called out. By that time she was very weak. She is extremely lucky."
Dorn was too weak to cross the river, so the brothers left food, water and wood for a fire and went for help, Benoist said. It took them a day to hike out and contact rescuers, who called in the National Guard.
"We needed a large helicopter ... one with night vision and a hoist, and we also needed a medic on board because of her condition," Benoist said.
Dorn was hospitalized in Silver City and should be fine, Benoist said. Her condition was unavailable.
Dorn, who travels often to Silver City, had planned to camp for two weeks. But five days into her trip, it rained and snowed and the Gila River rose, trapping her, Benoist said.
"The river got big, as she put it, so she did not want to cross it again," Benoist said. "It had become too dangerous and also she did not want to
(Excerpt) Read more at foxnews.com ...
I've heard toilet papering a tree is a pretty good way to get attention, since they're a pretty rare occurance in nature, or using some of that bright orange plastic construction zone tape, like the kind police use to mark off crime scenes. I know ounces count when backpacking but something more permanent than flares would be good.
Yeah, but as it turned out, wasn't he close to a foot bridge (I mean almost ridiculously close) so he could have crossed the river that was "trapping" him?
i doubt that there was a cellphone signal available anywhere near where this woman was camping in the wilderness.
That's why they call it...The wilderness, ;)
Ah. That explains things a bit.
Here's a link to the manufacturer of the one I have:
http://www.acrelectronics.com
These have a discrete code that is registered, along with your personal contact info, with NOAA. Some even have GPS's built in and transmit your exact position to the satellite.
--I agree with you, she should have had a cell phone.--
My cell phone goes out in spots within a few miles of a major city. No way is there coverage 20 miles into a forrest.
I don't think the Gila got too much as most of the storms were in the central area of the state north. You still digging out up there?
15 degrees this morning with a stiff wind here in the patch...
We got about 2 more inches yesterday morning. It's 3 degrees right now, but the wind is down. The garbage truck hasn't made it up here since December.
She was smart enough not to try to cross the Gila River during storm surge.
My Dad's family moved there just before he turned six years old. They finally moved back to Alabama when he was in his teens. The change in that river is impressive when it gets high.
Maybe next time she could put a gila monster on a spit like Mick Dundee might have done.
she's not too bright for getting into that situation,
but i do admire the way she managed to survive
for 5 weeks out there alone.
excellent rescue efforts by the hikers and the guard.
From what I remember there aren't many woods in the desert. There are Cactus, Jimson Weed, Mesquite and a few scrub oaks.
If you'd like to be on or off this Upper Midwest (WI, IA, MN, MI, and anyone else) list, largely rural issues, please FR mail me. And ping me is you see articles of interest.
Hiking alone, telling no one you are going or where and being a lone female hiker is just asking for trouble. Happens all the time, but people are slow learners. The Grand Canyon hides many bodies of such hikers. We met a lone female hiker on top of a mountain once. She was lost but wouldn't admit it. We showed her the only route down, a very difficult and dangerous way, but we never knew if she made it.
This is high desert. Plenty of pinon, juniper and other trees that really like to burn.
I heard that on the Albuquerque news last night. They said she was lost for 5 weeks. She's lucky to be alive!
Yes and they are a tinderbox waiting to go up, apparently.
About 20 years ago I was working in Fallon, Nevada, installing a cellular system for Cellular One. One of our rituals when we turned up a site was to have a good burnin' of all the crates, boxes, etc. that the equipment came in.
One site in particular was on "Rattlesnake Hill" at the eastern edge of town, in the middle of scrubby bushes, creosote and others, and weeds. Typical desert and what I thought would not be of any particular danger of spreading a wildfire through. We got our fire going in the middle of a gravel parking lot and within 10 minutes the Fire Department, Sherriffs, and MP's (because of a Navy transmitter also located at the site) where there screaming bloody murder. It took some mighty smooth talking to not get thrown in jail that night.....
If you google her she's a shiftless hippie free spirit type. But she was smart enough not to die
"I agree with you, she should have had a cell phone. But I wondered why the brothers did not have a cell phone either?
And then they left her all alone while they both together went for help together? Perhaps she wanted it that way?"
That may have had something to do with the terrain and the river crossing needed to get back.
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