An 80-year-old Corvallis woman reported missing Friday evening while mushroom hunting found her way to safety on Saturday morning, the Benton County Sheriff’s Office reported Tuesday on its Facebook page.
The woman’s husband contacted law enforcement at 6:30 p.m. Friday after they had been separated near Alsea Falls.
“Being an experienced backpacker, the woman said she stayed put and kept her arms and legs moving all night to stay warm,” the BCSO release said. “Unfortunately, she did not have a whistle or other essential gear with her besides a rain jacket. She also didn’t have her hearing aids in to hear the rescue dogs barking, horns honking or searchers yelling for her.”
The woman told officials that she stayed hydrated by squeezing water out of moss and licking some leaves.
“Saturday morning when it got light, she found her way down the hill to the Alsea Falls access road, then down to the campground where the camp host had been advised about our search,” BCSO reported. “The camp host immediately brought her to our command post where we did a full medical evaluation and reunited her with husband.”
In addition to BCSO, others involved with the search included Marys Peak Search and Rescue, Corvallis Mountain Rescue Unit, Benton County Sheriff’s Mounted Posse and Region 3 K9 Search & Rescue. The units searched throughout the night.
The woman declined further medical treatment at the site but she was followed home to make sure she experienced no issues.
“She and her husband were just grateful to live in an area that had a search team like ours and so thankful we were out most of the night looking for her,” BCSO reported. “She said she will not likely be mushroom hunting any longer.”
BCSO shared a link to this website for information that outlines must-haves for hiking.
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