Hiker missing for almost month found in New Mexico-Alive!

[Are_grits_groceries]

An Albuquerque woman who had been missing for nearly a month has been found alive in New Mexico's Gila National Forest, authorities said Thursday.

Search and rescue crews found 41-year-old Margaret Page Wednesday in the forest in the state's southwest after her car was spotted in the area, Albuquerque police spokesman officer Robert Gibbs said.

KRQE-TV reported that Page was found in a sleeping bag with her cat, who apparently never left her side. She was barely able to speak and lost one third of her body weight.
<snip>
The station said that she likely had been stranded in the Gila for the past three weeks, eating food she had brought with her and drinking water from a nearby creek.

Gibbs said a National Forest Service officer located Page's car in the park during earlier in February but a search and rescue operation wasn't started at that time. Authorities are investigating why it took weeks for the search and rescue team to be alerted after her car was located in the park.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/huff-wires/20120309/us-missing-hiker-found/

I want to know too! Why did they wait?
Glad she is alive, but how is the cat?

[MADem]

1. That's a miracle if I've ever heard of one~!

The cat had to have left her side once or twice....maybe found a mouse, or at least to get some water...?

I'll be interested in hearing more about this story--pretty amazing.

[patricia92243]

2. It didn't say she was injured - she could go to the creek for water. I wonder why she didn't walk

out. More detail on this story would be interesting.

[PavePusher]

3. Puzzled the heck out of me to. Weird.... n/t

[madokie]

4. If I remember correctly the best thing you can do if stranded or lost is stay with the auto if you

were in one. Walking takes a lot of energy and if you don't have food and water you die pretty quickly plus a car offers some protection from the elements

[nobodyspecial]

7. Yep, you're correct

Had she tried to walk out, she just may not have survived. Unless you are somewhat certain of your location and can make it in a day, she did the best thing. Technically, rescuers should have arrived two weeks ago. I don't know if they can find a suitable explanation for the lapse that almost cost this woman her life.

[madokie]

8. I went though hell and won and graduated from the Navy's SERE school

and spent a tour helping to teach the students who followed me and that is one of the lessons we were taught.
Peace

I had intended to reply to Nobodyspecial, sorry 'bout that

[laundry_queen]

9. Absolutely correct

in fact, there was a Canadian couple that went missing last year (year before?) on a trip to the US, and the woman was found in her van 3 months later in a remote area on a dead end road in which their van got stuck. She was in bad condition, but she was alive. Her husband, who left to go find help, has never been found.

Apparently they took a wrong turn because of their gps. Shit, can you imagine?

[frylock]

10. hug a tree..

if you get lost in the wilderness the best thing you can do is stay put.

[snooper2]

14. Or walk around and find something to eat LOL

Jesus does nobody watch Survivor Man!

[panader0]

5. I've camped in the Gila Wilderness several times.

Lots of fish in the streams and watercress growing near the many hot springs. I'm sure I was a bit more prepared than that poor woman. I hope both she and her cat are OK.

[MerryBlooms]

6. Who takes a cat hiking? Weird. Glad they're ok. n/t

[frylock]

11. i ran into a woman hiking in the sierra who had 2 alpacas and a macaw..

i was super jealous of the alpaca, but a macaw?!

[abolugi]

15. I have a friend

who took his cat everywhere. He was homeless and car less so they would walk and hitchhike for miles. Always cracked me up when they appeared at my door!

[hifiguy]

12. I think I need new glasses.

At first glance, I read the headline as "Hitler found in New Mexico - Alive."

That is a lucky woman and a lucky cat. Glad they were found.

[Liberal_in_LA]

13. wow. yeah, why did the authorities wait weeks to check on her car?