Missing Laguna Niguel Hiker Found Safe After Three Day Search

LAGUNA NIGUEL, CA — A missing Laguna Niguel woman hiking on Mount Shasta was located Friday. Charity Stevens, a 36-year-old Laguna Niguel woman called 911 while hiking on Wednesday, July 26 that she was at the 13,000 foot level of the mountain, unable to get down.

According to the Marin County search and rescue, teams responded Thursday night, and on Friday given an assignment to cover a wide area along the Clear Creek route from the summit to the trail head.

"We were dropped off at the base of Misery Hill by a National Guard helicopter and we hiked up Misery Hill to reach the top of the Clear Creek route," the Marin County Search and Rescue team reported over Facebook. "We descended down, locating what we believed to be Steven's tracks in the area of her last cell phone ping. Ultimately, she was found by a mountaineer who offered her refuge and care in her tent."

There was much concern for the hiker's well being during the day's long search.

"Given the treacherous terrain, vast search area, and potentially deadly overnight temperatures we feared for the worst, and we are thankful she was located alive," a Search and Rescue spokesperson said. "In the end it was a great team effort by Siskiyou County and all agencies involved."

Search and rescue personnel from Marin County Sheriff's Department assisted in a large-scale, multi-agency search of the hiker who went missing Wednesday on Mount Shasta. Mount Shasta is in Siskiyou County, which is in the Shasta Cascade region of California along the Oregon border.

Read: Marin Rescuers Support Search For Missing Hiker On Mount Shasta

The Siskiyou County Sheriff's Office received a 911 call around 9:45 p.m. Wednesday from Stevens, who said that she did not have warm clothing but did have food and water. Stevens also told the sheriff's office that she was going to spend the night on the mountain.

The Siskiyou County Sheriff's Search and Rescue Team initiated a response and mutual aid was requested from other counties in California and SAR members from Oregon, including Marin County Search and Rescue. The California Highway Patrol and the California Army National Guard also provided ground, air and emergency communications support.

Stevens was originally located near the Mud Creek Glacier near Red Banks, according to officials. The last location obtained by searchers was at the 8,500-foot level near the Clear Creek Trail Head.

"We worked very hard to locate Ms. Stevens," Siskiyou County Sheriff Jon Lopey said. "We were concerned about her welfare but we are grateful for the overwhelming support we have received from our federal, state, and local partners."

Photo courtesy Siskiyou County Sheriff Department