'Experienced' Hiker, 71, Spends Night in the Calif. Mountains After Friend Reports Her Missing

A 71-year-old woman was rescued after spending a night in the California wilderness, thanks to a friend who alerted authorities to her disappearance.

The hiker, described as “an experienced outdoorswoman,” disappeared on Tuesday, March 11, while exploring the Big Maria Mountains in the unincorporated area near Blythe, the Riverside County Sheriff’s Office said in a news release.

Authorities said the hiker “had shared her planned route and location with a friend” before the hike. 

That friend contacted the Riverside County Sheriff’s dispatch after not hearing from the hiker for about five hours.

As it turned out, the hiker was “low on water” and “several hours from her vehicle,” according to the sheriff’s office.

Deputies with the Colorado River Sheriff’s Station responded to the area near Powerline Road and Midland Road just before 9 p.m. local time on Tuesday, authorities added.

Authorities unsuccessfully attempted to locate the woman with a drone, and weather conditions prevented the sheriff’s department from deploying a helicopter to scour the area.

They then alerted the Riverside Mountain Rescue Unit, which found the woman “in good condition” just before 8 a.m. on Wednesday, March 12.

The hiker “did not require medical attention” after she was found and eventually “returned to her vehicle without assistance.”

Authorities said the woman “credited her preparedness for the successful outcome.”

“She conserved water, did not hike after dark, and carried appropriate clothing and gear for an overnight stay,” officials explained.

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The Riverside County Sheriff’s Office is now reminding outdoor enthusiasts about “the importance of proper preparation when hiking in remote areas.”

They recommend informing someone of planned routes and expected return times, carrying “sufficient water” and either wearing or packing “appropriate clothing for changing conditions.”