Found Deceased CA - Caroline Meister, 30, hiking, Ventana Wilderness, Los Padres National Forest, 18 Mar 2024

[imstilla.grandma]

For the past year and a half, she's been living and working at the Tassajara Zen Mountain Center, located deep in a steep and remote area known as the Ventana Wilderness, in the Los Padres National Forest.

Her parents, John and Jean Meister, say that gives them confidence Caroline is surviving. She's been missing for over two days after going hiking Monday.

"She's very familiar with the area, she's also an avid hiker," her father said Wednesday afternoon, shortly after getting off the plane at the Monterey Airport.

"She is very strong and resilient and we have great faith she's doing whatever she can to stay safe," her mother said.

Hiker still missing in the Ventana Wilderness, two days later

Caroline Meister, 30, went missing while hiking in the Ventana Wilderness on Monday.

www.ksbw.com

 

[Richrd]

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https://www.sfgate.com/california/article/deputies-searching-missing-hiker-last-seen-carmel-19306468.php

Deputies searching for missing hiker last seen in Ventana Wilderness

Caroline Meister, 30, is described as a white female adult who stands at 5'6 and weighs around 150 pounds. She has long brown hair that is most likely pulled up.She was last seen wearing teal-colored boots and carrying a blue bag.

www.ksbw.com

Google Search

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[imstilla.grandma]

"We really don't know what happened, so everything is just speculation. All we know is that she was going on a simple hike, and she has yet to return from that hike," Heather Larusso, director of the Tassajara Zen Mountain Center told KSBW.

“She stated she was going to hike a trail that loops back around to the Zen Center. There was also mention of hiking the Windcave Trail. She was only carrying snacks for the day and was not dressed or equipped for an overnight stay,” the Monterey County Sheriff’s Office said in a statement on Facebook.

Search Underway for Woman Missing on Hike From California Zen Center

Authorities say Caroline Meister is described as a white female adult, 5'6", 150 pounds. She has long brown wavy hair that is likely pulled up. She was last seen wearing teal-colored boots and carrying a blue bag.

www.insideedition.com

 

[grannygates]

“The Tassajara Zen Mountain Center is the oldest Japanese Buddhist Sōtō Zen monastery in the United States.”
(…)
“The center is only accessible over 5,082 feet (1,549 m) high Chews Ridge via a narrow, steep, 13.7 miles (22.0 km) one-lane dirt road from Jamesburg. During the winter months the center can be inaccessible due to snow and rain.[1]”

Tassajara Zen Mountain Center - Wikipedia

en.m.wikipedia.org

 

[GraceG]

This website about the hot springs has some good info on the trails including a lot of photos of two of the popular ones, the Wind Cave one she may have been traveling based on what she told others. Beautiful, but still pretty rugged terrain. We don't know what water supplies she had but as an avid hiker, as stated, she would have taken water with her along with her snacks. Tassajara Hot Springs California, USA May 2017 – Seeking

 

[imstilla.grandma]

She left the Tassajara Zen Mountain Center, a monastery and retreat centerlocated in the heart of the Ventana Wilderness, around 10 a.m. local time She was reportedly carrying only a few snacks for the day and had no equipment or clothing for an overnight hike, officials said.

On Friday, the sheriff’s office said its search-and-rescue team, as well as 60 additional officials from near-by counties, are continuing with their efforts to find the hiker. K9 units, heat-sensing aircraft, and a California Highway Patrol Helicopter are also assisting in the search.

30-year-old hiker missing for 4 days in California wilderness

A 30-year-old California woman described as an “avid hiker” has been missing for four days after going on a day hike in remote area known as Ventana Wilderness.

www.nydailynews.com

 

[ifindedout]

The center

Tassajara Zen Mountain Center · 39171 Tassajara Rd, Carmel Valley, CA 93924

âââââ · Monastery

www.google.com

 

[slowpoke]

Caroline has been found—deceased.

“The sheriff's office said Caroline's body was found near a waterfall with injuries consistent with falling off a cliff.”

Woman from River Forest found dead after leaving for hike in Southern California days earlier

Chicago-area hiker Caroline Meister, who went missing in California, has been found dead, the Monterey County Sheriff's Office said during a Friday evening press conference.

abc7chicago.com

 

[imstilla.grandma]

According to reports, search and rescue teams located Meister’s body on Friday. Meister was found with injuries consistent with a fall down a cliff, and no foul play is suspected in her death, reports say.

Body of missing hiker found near Big Sur - Paso Robles Daily News

– Authorities have confirmed the discovery of the body of Caroline Meister, a 30-year-old woman who had been missing for four days after embarking on […]

pasoroblesdailynews.com