Found Safe NM - Maria “Rita” Moncada Moreno, 74, from Venezuela, separated from family member while hiking, Winsor Trail, Santa Fe, 5 Sept 2022

[GuyfromCanada]

SANTA FE, N.M. — New Mexico State Police are asking for the public’s help to find 74-year-old Maria “Rita” Moncada Moreno of Venezuela.

State police said Rita was hiking with a family member on the Winsor Trail on Sep. 5. At around 9:30 a.m. Monday, the two separated with a plan to meet back up at their vehicle that was parked at the Winsor trailhead. When Rita did not show, the family member called for help.

Rita was wearing a tan straw hat, a black and white striped shirt, grey leggings, a bright blue insulated jacket, and purple and blue running shoes.

Anyone who has been in the area and may have seen Rita or has any other information on her whereabouts is asked to call the New Mexico State Police at (505) 841-9256 option 1, or dial 911.

Authorities search for missing hiker near Santa Fe ski basin

SANTA FE, N.M. — New Mexico State Police are asking for the public’s help to find 74-year-old Maria “Rita” Moncada Moreno of Venezuela. State police said Rita was hiking with a family member on the Winsor Trail on Sep. 5. At around 9:30 a.m. Monday, the two separated with a plan to meet back up […]

www.kob.com

 

[Snoopster]

Yet another hiking incident!
Rita seems to have such a sparkle in her eyes. I hope she is found safe and brought back to her family!

 

[Snoopster]

Winsor Trail is rated 'moderately difficult'. It's an out-and-back.
It looks like weather yesterday was dry but a bit warm. It got to 87 degrees around 1 pm. Based on photos of the trail it does seem that it's generally wooded, with tree cover for much of it, so definitely a bit more forgiving that other trails in less hospitable spots in the south.

 

[GuyfromCanada]

Maria "Rita" Moncada Moreno of Venezuela and her niece began hiking the Winsor Trail Monday morning, said state police Officer Ray Wilson, a spokesman for the agency. Around 9:30 a.m. the pair separated and planned to meet back at their vehicle, he added.

But when the niece returned to the car, her aunt wasn't there.

New Mexico Search and Rescue spokesman Bob Rodgers said Moncada Moreno and her niece decided to separate when they reached the Wilderness Gate area. The younger woman continued hiking on the Raven's Ridge Trail, while her aunt chose to turn back and wait for the younger woman at the car.

More at Authorities search for Venezuelan woman missing near ski basin

 

[Snoopster]

It seems that this trail (up to the Wilderness Gate and back) is popular with mountain bikes. I found this description on a MTB site:

When you get to the gate, you'll have to stop and turn around (as bicycles are not allowed in the wilderness, or consider the almost impossible Raven's Ridge climb - which is better as a descent).

On the way down, you'll find that the trail is fairly smooth and steep and can be very fast. Be very careful with hikers and PLEASE give them the right of way (which is not only polite, but is standard trail etiquette) as this trail has always been a "hiker-first" trail since it leads to the wilderness area.

 

[Seni]

NMSP Seek Help Finding Overdue Hiker At Winsor Trail

ladailypost.com

(..)

Immediately after officers arrived, New Mexico Search and Rescue (SAR) was activated. Ten SAR volunteers and one K9 team making up two ground teams have been in the area searching.

NMSP helicopter A.B.L.E. 7 has been in the area on both days assisting ground crews in the search

 

[LauraAnne]

It looks like the right hand pic in the OP is what she was wearing when they left to hike? "Moderately difficult" is likely too hard for her, although that doesn't really explain why she hasn't been found on or near the trail. Is it not marked clearly?

 

[Snoopster]

It looks like the right hand pic in the OP is what she was wearing when they left to hike? "Moderately difficult" is likely too hard for her, although that doesn't really explain why she hasn't been found on or near the trail. Is it not marked clearly?

bbm

Exactly. I didn't see any comments on AllTrails that indicated the trail is confusing. Photos seem to show that it's a pretty standard trail (supported by the fact that it's used by a lot of mountain bikers). I didn't see photos of cliffs or steep ravines, but that doesn't mean there aren't any.

I'm older (although not as old as Rita) and in fairly good shape. I like to hike on 'moderate' trails, with some undulations and requiring agility to quickly deal with roots and stones and such. When I go with my adult sons I can generally keep up, but if they do too much trail running and I don't want to slow them down I'll just say, "you guys go ahead and you'll catch up to me on the way back". It's always worked well for us. It's difficult to imagine that she's not somewhere somewhat obvious. Of course they might have been a side trail that caught her interest or she might have needed to go to the bathroom and stepped off trail for privacy. Maybe she had a heart attack while off trail? That's the only thing I can think of.

 

[Seni]

Reading Snoopster's post about the mountain bikes worries me. Maybe a bike brushed past at speed and without realising, knocked her off her feet. Also bit surprised that niece didnt know if she had water, altho from photo she seems to have a backpack.

Suerte Rita!

 

[mewmew]

Probably entirely unimportant, but does anyone else find it odd she was wearing an insulated jacket on an 87 degree day? Is this some type of hiking thing I don’t know about? I’m in Michigan and in a hiking group, and we are certainly not wearing insulated jackets (temp here is in the 80s as well recently).

 

[LauraAnne]

Probably entirely unimportant, but does anyone else find it odd she was wearing an insulated jacket on an 87 degree day? Is this some type of hiking thing I don’t know about? I’m in Michigan and in a hiking group, and we are certainly not wearing insulated jackets (temp here is in the 80s as well recently).

Checking the weather in Santa Fe right now, it's a little chill - high 50's - in the morning, warming up to mid 80's. So, that would warrant a light jacket if you're walking around or hiking.

 

[Gardenista]

It sounds from this like it is confusing

Robin Zammas set off on what she thought would be a short hike one Sunday morning in mid-July 2007. She climbed the Winsor Trail from the ski area parking lot to Wilderness Gate, then turned left, just as Audrey Richman Kaplan did July 30. Zammas was looking for big views and wildflowers. Kaplan was searching for mushrooms. Zammas survived two nights in the mountains; Kaplan was found dead five days after she went missing.

Experts: Day hikers most at risk of getting lost in wild

Most of the people who get in trouble in the wilderness are day hikers who don’t foresee spending a lot of time in the wild and thus don’t prepare.

www.santafenewmexican.com

 

[Laughing]

New Mexican here, the jacket makes sense because it can be very cool up in the mountains & there is shade. 9:30 AM, the air & ground haven't warmed up yet. Typically windy, too.

Official temperature is probably recorded at the airport, quite a bit south of this trail and at a much lower altitude.

Remember that at this altitude, there is much, much less oxygen to breathe. Trails that look 'moderate' can really take it out of you.

Been years since I was on the Winsor Trail. This working for a living thing can be a real bummer!

SAR will find her imho, as long as she's close to the marked trail. Sometimes folks ignore the signs, ignore the blazes, essentially ignore the wilderness and that creates problems.

@RickshawFan

jmho ymmv lrr

 

[RickshawFan]

Does anyone know if this is in the NM highlands or lowlands? It makes a BIG difference for temperature.

 

[mewmew]

Checking the weather in Santa Fe right now, it's a little chill - high 50's - in the morning, warming up to mid 80's. So, that would warrant a light jacket if you're walking around or hiking.

Thanks, that makes sense!!

 

[RickshawFan]

It sounds from this like it is confusing

Robin Zammas set off on what she thought would be a short hike one Sunday morning in mid-July 2007. She climbed the Winsor Trail from the ski area parking lot to Wilderness Gate, then turned left, just as Audrey Richman Kaplan did July 30. Zammas was looking for big views and wildflowers. Kaplan was searching for mushrooms. Zammas survived two nights in the mountains; Kaplan was found dead five days after she went missing.

Experts: Day hikers most at risk of getting lost in wild

Most of the people who get in trouble in the wilderness are day hikers who don’t foresee spending a lot of time in the wild and thus don’t prepare.

www.santafenewmexican.com

If you're searching for stuff on the ground (e.g. mushrooms), it's very easy to get disoriented. Same with hunters: they get focused on prey and not where they are.

 

[Seni]

Probably entirely unimportant, but does anyone else find it odd she was wearing an insulated jacket on an 87 degree day? Is this some type of hiking thing I don’t know about? I’m in Michigan and in a hiking group, and we are certainly not wearing insulated jackets (temp here is in the 80s as well recently).

We don't see her wearing it. Maybe in her back pack. Also depending where in Venezuela she is from, she might be used to high temps?

 

[RickshawFan]

@Laughing Can you Google map this trail?

 

[RickshawFan]

Probably entirely unimportant, but does anyone else find it odd she was wearing an insulated jacket on an 87 degree day? Is this some type of hiking thing I don’t know about? I’m in Michigan and in a hiking group, and we are certainly not wearing insulated jackets (temp here is in the 80s as well recently).

Not odd at all if she was in the mountains of NM. And it would definitely be de rigueur to carry one in your pack.

The apparel choice does concern me, though, from what I can see. In this environment (actually most hiking environments), you'd want to be in synthetics or wool exclusively, from the baselayers on up. The exception would be a puffy jacket (you want to be careful if it's down, though). Cotton can be a death trap, because it chills you by putting a layer of water (i.e. sweat) against your skin.

So, if poor MM has been out there for as long as she seems to have been, this apparel choice would be very worrisome.

Expert safety tip: it's currently become popular for women to wear leggings for hiking. If that is your choice, make SURE you are wearing synthetic leggings, and not cotton ones! They should be robust enough to survive a skinned knee, too. And NEVER jeans.

 

[RickshawFan]

It's very easy to get lost by following an animal trail, a view trail, or a waterbar. These are some of the first places SAR focuses on.