Wow, great news! A woman who'd been missing in Mount Zion National Park was just found alive! As usual the news story had very little detail, and stories like this tend to get bumped down the page by the news cycle but I would like to learn more! Family said she's an experienced hiker (but it seems like everyone that's ever spent a night camping is called an 'experienced hiker' by the media) but it's kind of unusual to see someone found alive after so long. Clearly she did a lot of things right to have survived!

Many questions as yet unanswered --- Was she evading searchers? What was her contemplated trip, if known?

Zion simply isn't that large a park. What was she doing during the two week period?

Yeah, I agree it seems odd. She left no itinerary and had no phone. Still even if it was planned she did a good job with water!

This event illustrates that thee cell phone is rapidly becoming the eleventh essential. Even out of cell phone coverage, a properly apped cell phone is very useful. Compass, GPS, maps are all possible.

I say this as a traditionalist who always carries a conventional compass and paper map, etc.

What other apps should grace a properly outfitted cell phone? Geezers want to know....

Isn't this when Doug sends out his staff of crack ETS reporters to get the scoop on the story??

It sounded like she absolutely loved the outdoors, and sometimes I think that can help lead to a positive frame of mind and comfort that can improve the chances for a good outcome.

So glad to hear she is OK.

Flashlight app.

According to a story released today she hit her head on a tree and was shaken up too bad to walk. If she had a bad concussion I could see her not being able get out on her own. She says every time she'd go to take a few steps she'd get woozy and collapse. In that case, and I'm proceeding on the assumption that she's being truthful, staying put probably gave her the best odds of survival. It worked I guess! She stayed by a stream bed but as dehydrated as she was I wonder if it was kind of just mud?

Now the sister of the missing hiker says that the hiker did not drink any water during the entire 12 day period.

A member of the local search & rescue says something here doesn't add up.

https://www.foxnews.com/us/zion-hiker-holly-courtier-sister-discrepancies-rescue

Yeah, kind of fishy. No way you go 12 days without any water! You'd be way beyond "dry mouth" at that point, you're a goner (especially if she didn't have food either).

I think the intent was to say she didn't drink from the river (toxic algae). Obviously she wouldn't be here without another water source.

The article also suggests that there may be a mental health aspect to this. I suspect that's something SAR and park rangers watch for. But if someone is operating under their own steam and refuses assistance, I suppose the rule is to escort to a safe place and that's that.