Mississippi woman (second from right) found alive in Sequoia National Park/NPS
A Mississippi woman missing in Sequoia National Park since last week was found alive and in good condition Monday afternoon after the crew of a search plane spotted her SOS spelled out on the ground.
Mary Joanna Gomez was found off trail about 3.5 miles over rocky and steep terrain from her vehicle, a park release said.
"A California Air National Guard aircraft C-130 first located an SOS spelled out with rocks on the ground and later identified a person nearby. Ground searchers responded and were able to find Mrs. Gomez cold, thirsty and hungry, but in otherwise good health," the release added.
Gomez, 56, traveled to California for a nursing assignment, and headed to Sequoia and adjacent Kings Canyon national parks on October 23, her day off. Her last communication with family was on October 24 when she text messaged her daughter with photos taken in different areas of Kings Canyon, park staff said.
She was expected back to work on October 25, missed her shift, and her family reported her missing to the San Francisco Police Department.
The woman was seen in the Giant Forest of Sequoia National Park on Saturday morning, according to park staff. That night, shortly before midnight, her vehicle was located along the Generals Highway near a trailhead in the Little Baldy area by a park ranger. It had not been at that trailhead earlier in the day.
The Little Baldy Trail offers a 4-mile hike that leads to an 8,044-foot summit that provides sweeping vistas of Sequoia.
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Comments
How awesome that you found Joanna. She is a survivor and very blessed.
I give thanks to God that she is fine.
Thank you for finding a fellow nurse!
Thank you for finding our wonderful friend!
That is awesome news!
Thank you to the men and women at NPS. Tax dollars well spent.
So thankful she is safe!!
Thank you! Awesome job!
Thank you for your dilligence in searching and finding our traveler. ❤️
Search & Rescue in California are generally volunteers that do not get paid. They work with the Sheriffs Dept to find lost persons in remote areas. Thank you to the Search & Rescue team that found her!
Jayne--
You're right about mostly volunteers. But also rangers and others coordinating search efforts (more likely than sheriff's office taking the lead on SAR within a park), who at most have SAR as collateral duties on top of their primary jobs. And in this case she was found by CA Air National Guards. It takes a team. We can thank them all for their efforts. I'm sure they're all very happy with this outcome.
all of us that know her knows how brave she is and what spunk she has. we cant wait to hear Her story. Mississippi says thank you California. born and raised in california but lived in the sip for years. been friends as well as traveler together. worked with her for years.....pround of my home state
So so so happy that Joanna has been found and healthy too!! What a story to tell for years to come!!
Praise God that you are safe and with your family!
So happy you found our friend. Thanks for all you do.
I'm glad she reunited with her family