Missing Hiker Found Safe After Four Days at Colorado Spiritual Retreat Without Cellphones

The world of spiritual retreats brings individuals closer to nature, promoting introspection and healing. However, it also presents risks, especially when precautions are not acknowledged. Such was the case for Gina Chase, a 53-year-old from Victoria, Canada, who found herself missing for four days during a Nokia's spiritual retreat. This event unfolded in the backcountry of Colorado's San Miguel County, leaving local authorities and the community in palpable apprehension.

Missing Colorado hiker found alive

The retreat organized by Nokia involved a group of a dozen participants who deliberately ventured into the backcountry sans cellular phones to immerse themselves in a spiritual quest. This, they believed, would maximize their connection with nature, according to information provided by the Animas Valley Institute, the organization's directing body based in Durango, Colorado. However, this also meant a complete disconnection from the modern world, raising alarm about potential safety hazards.

On the fateful day of August 16, 2023, Chase decided to undertake a solo journey, separating herself from her group around 11 a.m. Subsequently, she failed to check in with her buddy, raising concern within the camp. By August 17, after conducting unsuccessful searches, the camp guides reported her disappearance to the sheriff’s office, marking the initiation of a full-scale search operation.

The Search Efforts

The ensuing days witnessed a Herculean effort from the San Miguel County Sheriff's Office, as a combination of deputies and volunteers scoured the challenging terrain characterized by dense underbrush and towering trees coaxed under the weight of the Colorado sun. The absence of modern communication/navigation equipment had rendered the search arduous and to compound the challenges, the volunteers grappled with extreme heat, further endangering their well-being.

The Successful Rescue

After an extensive four-day search, the efforts bore fruit on the afternoon of August 20, 2023 when Gina Chase was found alive and unharmed, marking the much-anticipated conclusion to the intensive, multinational search operation.