CO Gina Chase, 53, failed to return to her campsite on a nature quest with 11 other hikers, San Miguel County backCounty near Norwood 15 Aug 2024

[StillDiggin]

Search and rescue crews are searching the Lone Cone area outside of Norwood for a missing 53-year-old Durango woman who failed to return to her campsite Wednesday.

According to the San Miguel County Sheriff's Office, the missing woman, Gina Chase, was with 11 campers from an organized group out of Durango and set off for solo journeys into the woods from the Wilson Mesa trailhead in the Lone Cone area on Wednesday morning.


Chase was supposed to check at the group’s main camp but was discovered missing on Thursday. After searching her campsite, guides determined Chase had not slept there the preceding night and that her daypack, which contained an emergency blanket, a whistle, a power bar, and some water, was missing.

The 5’4” tall, 125-pound Chase likely has no cell phone with her because participants were discouraged from bringing one with them on their so-called quests to maximize a spiritual experience with nature, the sheriff's office said.

San Miguel County deputies and search and rescue crews began searching the area Thursday. With assistance from several area agencies, they will continue their search into the weekend.

Woman on nature quest goes missing in San Miguel County backcountry near Norwood

Search and rescue crews are searching the Lone Cone area outside of Norwood for a missing 53-year-old Durango woman who failed to return to her campsite Wednesday.

www.denver7.com

 

[weepingangel]

The 5’4” tall, 125-pound Chase likely has no cell phone with her because participants were discouraged from bringing one with them on their so-called quests to maximize a spiritual experience with nature, the sheriff's office said.

Well, that seems sort of ill advised.
Sounds like she has a few basic supplies, hopefully they’ll find her quickly.

 

[annpats]

A quick Google images search tells us there is a heck of a lot of tree coverage in the Wilson Mesa trail area!
I'm not sure searching with a helicopter or drone will help, I think it'll have to be foot soldiers, on the ground.
Let's hope she is found and soon!

 

[annpats]

An organized group set off for solo journeys into the woods .......participants were discouraged from bringing cell phones with them on their so-called quests to maximize a spiritual experience with nature, the sheriff's office said.

Woman on nature quest goes missing in San Miguel County backcountry near Norwood

Search and rescue crews are searching the Lone Cone area outside of Norwood for a missing 53-year-old Durango woman who failed to return to her campsite Wednesday.

www.denver7.com

BBM.

A solo journey into the woods in Colorado without a cell phone.

What a recipe for disaster!

This kind of thing makes me so angry. You can still have a spiritual experience with nature AND have your cell phone in your pocket for emergencies.

This attitude from the organisers of discouraging cell phones is bordering on negligent!

What provision did they have for emergencies then?! None!

 

[PommyMommy]

Woman, 53, reported missing from "spiritual" camp in southwestern Colorado

The woman was last seen Wednesday morning. She was part of a spiritual group that encouraged solo "quests." Participants were discouraged from bringing electronics and food, according to the San Miguel County Sheriff's Office.

www.cbsnews.com

[...]

"Our team of deputies and Search and Rescue volunteers are working tirelessly to locate this missing woman," San Miguel County Sheriff Bill Masters said in a statement on Saturday. "While their efforts have not been successful thus far, we remain hopeful that she will be found."

People are being asked to stay away from the area of Lone Cone and refrain from flying drones in the area so as not to interfere with search efforts.

[...]

"The area we are talking about is not all that large but it's extremely dense, and with rough terrain, a lot of dense underbrush, dense trees, and it's just very difficult for that reason," Susan Lilly, a spokeswoman for the San Miguel County Sheriff's Office, told CBS News Colorado. "We have a lot of agencies participating. We have air resources and were just not coming up with anything."

[...]