A woman who set out on a short “solo journey” and was lost for 4 days in Colorado’s San Juan Mountains has been found by search and rescue teams. According to authorities, she was discovered on Aug. 17 within the targeted search area alive and uninjured.
Gina Chase, 53, is a resident of Victoria, Canada. She was participating in a spiritual retreat with the local guide service Animas Valley Institute. According to a statement from the San Miguel County Sheriff’s office, the goal of the retreat was to “maximize [one’s] experience with nature.” Chase and others were encouraged to fast and leave cellphones and other technology behind before taking off for a solo overnight.
“Obviously, this is the outcome we were all hoping for,” said Miguel County Sheriff Bill Masters. “We couldn’t be happier for Ms. Chase and her family.”
Masters also warned others about the dangers of setting out into the mountains without proper preparation. And he didn’t mince his words.
“You should always bring technology for communications,” the Sheriff said. “Furthermore you should not starve yourself even if a ‘guide’ service suggests the opposite of these basic safety rules. Nature does not care about your safety and will kill you, especially if you are not properly prepared.”
Spiritual Quest Turned Survival Emergency
Chase was last seen at the Lone Cone trailhead outside of Norwood, Colo., when the group departed. She and others in the group had campsites they were hiking to and intended to spend the evening at alone. The campers were supposed to check in at the main camp the following day, but Chase never did.
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According to the sheriff’s office, guides searched for several hours on Thursday, Aug. 15, checking Chase’s campsite and the surrounding area. They found that her daypack, containing an emergency blanket, whistle, power bar, and water, was gone, possibly indicating she’d left for a hike and gotten lost.
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Animas Valley Institute & ‘Contemporary Vision Fasting’
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