Editor's note: This updates with additional information from the park.
A woman missing in Zion National Park for nearly two weeks was found Sunday after the park received a tip. Shortly after searchers found Holly Suzanne Courtier, she left the park with her family without seeking any medical treatment.
The park release did not provide any details about the 38-year-old California woman's condition, or where in the park she was found. The park's acting chief of interpretation could not address either question, nor could she say whether Courtier had been lost or was simply camping out of the way in the park.
Park officials were tipped to the woman's location by another visitor who had spotted her and called in the information.
“We are overjoyed that she was found safely today. We would like to thank the rangers and search teams who relentlessly looked for her day and night and never gave up hope," the family said in a statement released by Zion officials. "We are also so grateful to the countless volunteers who were generous with their time, resources and support. This wouldn’t have been possible without the network of people who came together.”
Three days ago friends set up a GoFundMe page to raise money "to help cover the costs of her search and possible after care when she is found." As of Sunday afternoon it had generated $9,602 towards a $15,000 goal.
"Please continue sharing this page as Holly will need medical care in the days moving forward. She has no medical insurance to cover the costs and your donations will help," wrote Jaime Strong, the campaign's organizer.
Courtier, who was described as a fit, experienced hiker by her daughter in an interview with CNN, was last seen on October 6 when she got off a park shuttle bus not far from Zion Lodge at the Grotto trailhead in Zion Canyon, a deep, red-rock chasm in southwestern Utah. Searchers intensified their efforts this weekend, bringing in dog teams and a drone from Grand Canyon National Park to help in the hunt for Courtier.
The 5-foot-3, 100-pound woman had been touring national parks since losing her job as a nanny earlier this summer, according to her daughter. Although she went missing in October, the month has been dry and mild, with daily temperatures in the mid-70s and overnight lows in the 40s.
Comments
Again, this lady has my sincere sympathies for whatever trouble she was having either in the park or in her life. I recognize that these are dark times that the republicans have brought us over the past twenty years since that fraudulent election in Florida. But, regardless, there is still the problem of allowing park visitors to do as they please without sufficient regard for either visitors' safety or the parks' missions and it truly does cost us all, visitors, park supporters, and taxpayers. The parks still need to spend more on preventative and interactive law enforcement, visitor controls, and permitting processes and procedures, including backcountry and even just hiking permits and requirements, in order to reduce both the risks to the parks and their visitors and the post-mishap or post-mischief rescue, repair, medical, and law enforcement costs.
I totally totally agree with your comment. If they go out hiking and something like this happens, that's what they deserve. They waste the rescue crew's time and money. Stay home stupid people. Pay for your own medical expenses. Don't be lame and expect someone else pay for your stupidness.
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She went home and did not accept medical assistance. What type of treatment would she need? I have read other articles about this story as well, and those stated she seemed fine at time of her rescue. This story seems off. Either incorrect info is being written about this or something seems weird. So in closing 15,.000 dollars for what exactly?
She had a head injury so severe she was unable to walk. She didn't eat for 12 days. She was so dehydrated she was unable to open her mouth. If the nighttime temperatures were in the 40s, she should have been suffering from hypothermia too. But she was able to walk out without much assistance. It's a miracle.
This woman had no marks of an injury. The woman and her daughter went to this same park 2 weeks prior.. Its obvious they went to scope things out to see where she would camp and hide while she was hiding from her searchers. Oh.how.surprised a.go find me.page was set.up for.injuries before she was even found...so the already.knew she would be alive lol
Lots of people don't have insurance
Where is all the money? I'd like to see the amount of money coming into the parks and an itemized list of purchases
The NPS does have accountability in place. Zion National Park requires a wilderness permit to hike the Narrows starting from the top to the bottom of the Virgin River within Zion NP. Did the "found" hiker have a permit to hike the Virgin River?
As a seasoned hiker who has hiked the Virgin River in Zion NP, and suffered a hard concussion while mountain biking, I find the facts surrounding this hiker's case questionable.