Woman hiker found after 5 weeks

[babylonsister]

Woman hiker found after 5 weeks
By Sue Major Holmes
Associated Press Writer
http://www.denverpost.com/nuggets/ci_5017396

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. - A faint sound made Albert and Peter Kottke stop and look around as they hiked out of the Gila Wilderness area at the end of backpacking trip. A figure moved on the other side of the Gila River. As it drew closer, the two university students saw a woman, hunched over and moving slowly.

The Kottkes crossed the river to find Carolyn Dorn, 52, who had been alone in the Gila National Forest for five weeks after becoming trapped on the wrong side of the rain- and snow-swollen river. The search for her had been called off two weeks ago.

The brothers said they realized Dorn was too weak to go with them. They gave her food - Tang, almonds, dried apples, an energy bar, some hot soup and a little cheese - scavenged firewood for her from the other side of the river, filled her water bottles and left her a book - suspense author Michael Connelly's "Chasing the Dime."

They hiked 20 miles over the next day and a half, and on Saturday hitchhiked into Silver City, where they contacted authorities.

"We got her prepared to spend another couple of nights while we went upstream to get help," Albert Kottke, 25, a doctoral student in civil engineering at the University of Texas at Austin, said Sunday from his parents' home in St. Paul, Minn.

A New Mexico National Guard helicopter crew, using night vision goggles and a U.S. Geological Survey map the Kottke brothers marked, rescued the weak and dehydrated South Carolina woman before dawn Sunday and flew her to Silver City.

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[Alamom]

1. Goodness, this is an incredible story. Thanks for reporting. So

glad they found her alive.

[mike_c]

2. wow! amazing story....

:applause:

[Longhorn]

3. Truly amazing people all around!

I admire Dorn and her rescuers! :applause:

[dipsydoodle]

4. Amazing story

Three cheers for Albert and Peter Kottke. Kinda restores your faith in human nature.

[xultar]

5. This brightened my heart today.

[Subdivisions]

6. A bonified miracle and a great story. What a strong lady she is! n/t

[democrank]

7. What a terrific bit of news.

Glad there are Albert and Peter Kottkes in the world.

[file83]

8. How the hell did she survive for 5 WEEKS!? That is miraculous and I'd love to

hear her story - if she can remember all of it. I'm sure a lot of it is a blur.

[Nomad559]

9. Starman - Jeff Bridges

"Do you know what I find most beautiful about you (humans)? You are at your best when things are at their worst.

:)

[bmbmd]

11. Sometimes you find a good one-

Starman, ET-but most of the time, they turn out to be some kind of big lizard.

[mvd]

10. Good to hear it!

:bounce:

[RaleighNCDUer]

12. Somewhat less than a miracle.

She was on a solo two-week hike to begin with, fully equipped with tent and sleeping bag, and he had the river for water. Unlike the majority of people who are killed in the wilderness, it sounds like she knew what she was doing, even when cut off from her planned route out.

Kudos to her for being a smart, strong woman.

[malaise]

13. Phew a good story at last

Thank you.