A woman attending a “spiritual retreat” and urged by organizers to leave her cellphone behind ended up lost in Colorado mountains for four days. Rescuers finally found her in the San Miguel Mountains.
Develop spiritual nature
Gina Chase, 53, of Victoria, British Columbia, joined up with a program put on by the Animas Valley Institute. The group says it helps people develop their spiritual nature by being alone out in nature. As part of her development, on Wednesday, August 14, she set out on a “solo journey” near Colorado’s Lone Cone Peak near the western end of the San Miguels.
“Ms. Chase was part of a group of campers who, by design, set off alone into the backcountry without their cellphones and then fasting ‘to maximize their experience with nature,’” says a Facebook post from the area sheriff’s office. So off she went, carrying a backpack that held “an emergency blanket, a whistle, a power bar, and some water.”
Lost in Colorado mountains
The whistle was apparently her choice of what Animas Valley Institute organizers suggest those on quest carry in the form of a “signaling device.” The group’s focus on safety assigned Chase a “buddy” who was to check to ensure she made it back to their campsite. When she didn’t turn up at the site more than 24 hours after setting out on her quest, her buddy alerted authorities.
Officials mounted a search and rescue mission. Aircraft, drones, K9 teams, and more set out looking for the missing woman. She was found safe and alive on Saturday.
“Nature doesn’t care and will kill you”
While pleased with the results of the rescue mission, San Miguel County Sheriff Bill Masters had a few words for other nature enthusiasts. A Facebook post had this to say: “Sheriff Masters would like to advise the public that when going into the backcountry you should never be alone. ‘You should always bring technology for communications. 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 are not properly prepared,’ Sheriff Masters emphasized.”
In addition to the fear and discomfort that undoubtedly accompanied her adventure, Chase was out financially. She may have paid somewhere between $1,800 and $3,000 to Animas Valley Institute. This according to a report from the New York Times.
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SHE? was out financially? There were at least 30 searchers by my count. The Animas Valley Institute should be charged for the costs of rescue.
Even a cell phone may have been useless in such an area. Cell service in remote areas is spotty at best. A ‘buddy’ sitting at the retreat is not the answer. Anyone wishing to go out on their own in such an area should have been provided with a satellite communications device like the SPOT. The AVI should be responsible for paying the costs incurred by the rescue personnel. Total negligence on their part.
Thank you, Russ and Tina! 🙂 Well, certainly sounds like lots of people screwed up to create this situation. Thanks again, have a great day, safe travels, and safe stays! 🙂
I hope she and the spiritualist group end up paying for the entire rescue effort..
Heck yes! I’m ashamed to admit I’m a human. Absolutely no brains or sense. She really needs the words “Coffee is hot!” on the paper cup.
More important than having a cell phone is NOT HIKING ALONE. Especially in unfamiliar terrain.
Even more important, be trained properly. We need to let Darwinism take its course.
You can’t teach stupid, but you can learn it at an Animas retreat ??
Probably costs a lot, too. Not to mention, it could have cost her her life.🙄 Have a good afternoon/evening, Bill. 😀 –Diane
All part of the learning process, I guess. Have a safe productive walk and a nice evening yourself!
Thanks, Bill. At least she lived to have learned that dangerous lesson (and I’ll bet she doesn’t do that again). I did my walk in the pouring down rain this morning. Glad to have gotten it out of the way. Take care. 😀 –Diane