Woman lost 9 days in Arizona forest wrote ‘help’ in sticks

WTOP News (Washington DC) ^ | 12 April 2016 | WTOP News (Washington DC)

[COBOL2Java]

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TUCSON, Ariz. (AP) — A woman lost in an Arizona forest for nine days survived by drinking pond water, eating plants and spelling out “help” on the ground with sticks, authorities said Tuesday.

The sign helped lead rescuers to Ann Rodgers, 72, in the White Mountains of eastern Arizona earlier this month, the state Department of Public Safety said. Rodgers declined to comment when reached by The Associated Press.

She went missing March 31 as she headed to visit her grandkids in Phoenix. Rodgers got lost and her hybrid vehicle ran out of gas and electric power, authorities say. Her car was discovered three days after a search began, but rescue crews struggled to find her.

Authorities came across her dog April 9, and a department flight crew spotted a “help” signal made of sticks and rocks on the ground. Rodgers had left the area, but she was found nearby on the Fort Apache Reservation after starting a signal fire.

[dp0622]

I would have spelled out PIZZA after 3 hours

[ClearCase_guy]

found nearby on the Fort Apache Reservation after starting a signal fire

1) The Native Americans will take her to court for trespassing
2) Bureau of Land Management will take her to court for the fire
3) She probably started the fire with a lighter! She's a smoker!! The Surgeon General get her!

But I'm glad she's OK.

[headstamp 2]

“Rodgers had left the area, but she was found nearby on the Fort Apache Reservation after starting a signal fire.”

For which she was promptly issued a summons and told to walk out under her own power. She was issued further summonses for littering (her abandoned car) and disturbing the natural surroundings of the area. (help signal).

[Jim from C-Town]

Did she leave her car? Why would she leave her car? Why wouldn’t she follow the road if she did leave her car?

[COBOL2Java]

[loungitude]

Cancel that, it says “HELF”.
Look up the old Far Side cartoon.

I am glad that this person got rescued!

[loungitude]

Dammit!

[dfwgator]

I clicked on this thread, just to see that cartoon.

[IYAS9YAS]

Did she leave her car? Why would she leave her car? Why wouldn’t she follow the road if she did leave her car?

She left the biggest sign she could use. Her car. So much could have been done to get rescued.

That aside, her "HELP" would be difficult, at best, to see from the air. Contrast, contrast, contrast!

[ClearCase_guy]

They may try to turn this into a big Hollywood movie, but I predict that small town America won't go for it:

Hix Nix Stix Rescue Plan Pix

[DuncanWaring]

On the bright side, her signal fire didn't burn a half-million acres.

[Rashputin]

72 ? I'm surprised BarryCare rules didn't direct the rescue people to just drop her a big bottle of painkillers, and a note that said, “Taking more than four of these at one time will kill you. Do the right thing.”

[KC Burke]

According to other articles out here in Arizona, she left her car to climb a couple of ridges to try to get a cell phone signal. She was northeast of Globe on the Res.

There is nothing out there.

[Kirkwood]

Notice the exclamation mark? It actually says HELP!

[VTenigma]

Another GPS victim.

[rawcatslyentist]

Well, she was smart enough to buy a smart car. Explains everything.

[Jim from C-Town]

There is a road. She was on it. Roads tend to have vehicles on them on regular intervals. If you leave the car, at least walk the road. Roads lead places, like out of reservations and to cities and towns.

The point is she did everything wrong. She is lucky to have lived through the experience.

[funfan]

Good thing she could spell.

[Jim from C-Town]

Smart car? Things a death trap!