Found Deceased CA - Ann Herford, 66, Hiking on Arnold Rim Trail, Calaveras County, 15 Nov 2023 *Active Search*

  • #21
There is nowhere to be found any kind of search and rescue or law enforcement out and about in the area now. It is getting kind of weird with different inconsistencies being told and a new update that they searched an undisclosed field in Arnold. <modsnip - no link to an approved source>

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The window for finding the great majority of missing hikers is 72 hours. It's quite typical to cut back at that point. These are volunteers, they need to go back to jobs and family, and survival after 72 hours is very unlikely.

From what I could tell, this never was strictly a "missing hiker" case. It has features of a "silver alert", so IMO details are private to family.

If you look up "lost person behavior", I think you'll find that search protocols for "silver alerts" are different from "missing hiker" protocols (though there is some overlap). SAR is sometimes used in-town for searches, but often not.

This all might explain why searches in the area look unfamiliar or unlikely for someone who mentioned they like hiking.
 
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  • #22
This article lends color to the reality weatherwise that Ann would be facing if she was somewhere out there in the elements, waiting to be rescued. :(

“Though it was sunny and clear Monday, with highs near 60 in Arnold, it was wet and cold for nearly four days straight last week, and Herford may have been forced to spend multiple nights out in the autumn-wintry elements since Wednesday.
Overnight lows have dropped to near freezing and below freezing in the westslope Central Sierra foothills and mountains outside Arnold in recent days.”

Major search effort continues in Arnold for traveling nurse who went missing on hike

 
  • #23
Come on Ann, beat the statistics!
 
  • #24
Good idea of what the trail is like in this video. In another video hiker said they had difficulty finding the part of the trail that goes to the overlook, someone had to show them.

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  • #25
  • #26

Search continues for missing Elkton woman in California

Snipped...
...The search, coordinated by the Calaveras County Sheriff's Office, has involved up to 120 searchers, three canine teams, surveillance drones, e-bikes, specialized high-angle rope teams and air assets from the California Highway Patrol.
Members of the California Rescue Dog Association, Bay Area Mountain Rescue Unit, Contra Costa County, Nevada County, Marin County, Tuolumne County and Santa Clara County sheriff’s offices, the United States Forest Service and the Calaveras County Sheriff’s Office Search and Rescue have taken part in the search, which is now in its sixth day.
 
  • #27
Search and rescue teams are combing rugged terrain near Sacramento, California, for a missing 66-year-old traveling nurse from Michigan who disappeared over a week ago while on a hike, authorities said.


Ann Herford was last seen on the Arnold Rim Trail, the Calaveras County Sheriff’s Office said in a statement.


...



Published on November 22, 2023 12:03PM EST


1700673934043.png
 
  • #28
Today the CCSO Search and Rescue Team deployed 38 searchers in the continued efforts to locate Ann Herford. All ground searchers along with canine and unmanned aerial systems combed through the rugged terrain. The search is ongoing.

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  • #29
The Search for Missing Hiker Ann Herford Continues on with Ground, Canine, UAV & More

https://new.thepinetree.net/?p=170013

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  • #30
Several photos (scroll down) and stories at link.



Search for Missing Traveling Nurse Practitioner Ann Herford Continues in Calaveras County for Seventh Day



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Related: Calaveras County Search for Missing Traveling Nurse Practitioner Ann Herford Resumes for Sixth Day in Arnold

Calaveras County Search for Missing Traveling Nurse Practitioner Ann Herford Resumes for Fifth Day in Arnold

Calaveras County Search Continues in Arnold for Missing Traveling Nurse Practitioner Ann Herford

Calaveras County Search is Ongoing for Missing Traveling Nurse Practitioner Ann Herford of Lakemont

Calaveras County Sheriff Expands Search for Missing 66-Year-Old Hiker Ann Herford of Lakemont
 
  • #31
Where are you Ann??!?!?!?!
 
  • #32

Poortinga*, when asked about Herford's mental health, told MedPage Today, "there's nothing at this point that indicates there's any foul play involved ... We think at this point that this was strictly an accident that has occurred."

(*Sgt. Chad Poortinga, of the Calaveras County Sheriff's Office)
 
  • #33
I'm impressed by the amount of Search/Rescue teams and individuals that are out looking for Ann.
Please find her safe.
 
  • #34

When Ann Herford's husband Don passed away in January 2021, she had been working in California in her role as a traveling nurse practioner. She returned home to Elkton to be with her husband, their friend Joe Fibranz said.

Though she has spent much of her time caring for patients in places around Michigan like Traverse City and Lansing, California is probably her favorite place to visit, Joe added, with its ample hiking and sightseeing opportunities. She also worked for a time on a Native American reservation in the southwest.


(...)
 
  • #35
The red symbol indicates the area where Elkton resident Ann Herford disappeared earlier this month while hiking near Arnold, California.

The red symbol indicates the area where Elkton resident Ann Herford disappeared earlier this month while hiking near Arnold, California

These photos supplied by the Calaveras County (California) Sheriff's Office show the search efforts underway for Ann Herford, a missing hiker from Elkton. Herford dsiappeared over a week ago near a trailhead in Arnold, California.


Fibranz added how difficult Ann's disappearance has been on her family and friends, and he's praying his friend is soon found safe and sound. One aspect of her job she enjoyed was the chance to visit family and friends who lived around the country. As much as Ann enjoys traveling and going on hikes, her family and friends are what is most important to her, Fibranz said.

"She is missed," he said.
 
  • #36
Ann Herford, 66, disappeared around Nov. 11, 202,3 at the Arnold Rim Trail in Calaveras County, California. Herford, a resident of Elkton, was in Calfornia for work as a traveling nurse practioner.

Ann Herford, 66, disappeared around Nov. 11, 202,3 at the Arnold Rim Trail in Calaveras County, California. Herford, a resident of Elkton, was in Calfornia for work as a traveling nurse practioner.
Calaveras County Sheriff's Office/sfgate.com

The search for an Elkton woman who disappeared while hiking in California in mid-November has transitioned into a missing persons investigation.

Ann Marie Herford, 66, was last seen on Nov. 12 before parking her car at a trailhead of the Arnold Rim Trail System in California's Calaveras County. She was reported missing on Nov. 14, which led to the discovery of her vehicle the next day.

Herford was reported missing when she failed to arrive for work as a traveling nurse practitioner in Sonora in mid-November. Investigators from the Calaveras County Sheriff’s Office learned she was staying at the Best Western in Sonora and had told a friend over breakfast on Nov. 11 that she was hoping to do some hiking in the area.
 
  • #37
The Sheriff’s Office stated, “Facts and evidence obtained during the investigation have led to the investigative belief that a criminal act was not a contributing factor in the disappearance of Ann Herford.”

Among the mountainous and challenging terrain, the sheriff’s office said that continuous winter weather, like heavy rain, has impeded search efforts, but has not kept searchers from executing their tasks.

The cold and wet weather also stacks the odds against Herford as the sheriff’s office continue to hope in finding her huddled up somewhere trying to survive the harsh conditions.

Searchers and investigators are still working to piece together what happened the moments before Herford went missing, the sheriff’s office told FOX40.com.

There have been no clear signs if she encountered a wild animal, another person or simply lost her way, as recent rains have washed away any possible tracks and none of Herford belongings have been found in the surrounding wilderness.

The sheriff’s office told FOX40.com that they are searching every possible area that a person could get into and are using real time tracking to log exactly where searchers have already looked.
 
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  • #38
<RSBM>

A picture of her from the cbsnews video:
View attachment 461952
(RSBM above)
This photo gives me pause as she looks as though she’s lost significant weight vs the photo wearing bright pink.

I wonder whether she may have hiked significantly further than initially thought. Since she’s a traveling nurse, her friends and family may not have been aware of any uptick in fitness activities. Or, given the helpful trail descriptions above, she got into more difficult terrain than she had anticipated.

Simply some speculation and MOO. All good karma for those searching through a hectic holiday season. Perhaps there’s some small comfort in that she seemed to love her hikes/walks.

I hope she’s found soon.
 
  • #39
(RSBM above)
This photo gives me pause as she looks as though she’s lost significant weight vs the photo wearing bright pink.

I wonder whether she may have hiked significantly further than initially thought. Since she’s a traveling nurse, her friends and family may not have been aware of any uptick in fitness activities. Or, given the helpful trail descriptions above, she got into more difficult terrain than she had anticipated.

Simply some speculation and MOO. All good karma for those searching through a hectic holiday season. Perhaps there’s some small comfort in that she seemed to love her hikes/walks.

I hope she’s found soon.
Yes, I noticed the difference in her physicality, too. But I was unsure which photo is the more recent. Here’s another photo of her, captured from the same video.
This is so puzzling. And sad.
IMG_0196.jpeg
 
  • #40
IMO Ann looks older in the pink top photo than she does in the other ones, so i would presume that's the more up-to-date picture of her.

I hope there is some news about Ann soon, i believe its around 19 days now since she was last seen.
 

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