A New Mexico woman is safe this morning after being lost on the Grand Mesa overnight.

At approximately 9:30 Tuesday night, the Mesa County Sheriff’s Office was notified a backcountry skier was overdue and possibly lost on the Grand Mesa. A family member reported the 61-year-old was visiting from New Mexico and had gone skiing with their dog. 

A Mesa County Sheriff’s Office deputy located her car at the Mesa Top trailhead parking lot. Deputies, along with Mesa County Search and Rescue’s Snowskipper Team and Careflight’s helicopter, immediately began searching for the woman.

Three teams of snowmobilers searched for hours in temperatures nearing minus 15 degrees. Fresh snow on the ground also made it difficult to track where she may have gone. It was so cold electronics on the snowmobiles kept freezing, and one team of searchers became stranded. While on the way to help them, rescue crews miraculously found the woman and her dog alive several miles from the trailhead at about 4:30 in the morning. Everyone was transported safely back to the trailhead.

The woman was found in an area of dense trees which made it impossible for her to be seen by the searching helicopter. Search crews said it was a miracle not only she was found but also that she and the dog survived that long in the freezing weather. The woman was treated on scene by paramedics for exposure but otherwise in good health. 

The Mesa County Sheriff’s Office would like to encourage the public to take precautions when recreating in the winter. Trails you are familiar with during the summer may look drastically different during the winter. Always let someone know what trail you are going to and when to expect your return. Even if you’re only planning a short trip, carry extra food, water, supplies to start a fire, and warm clothes. Temperatures can drop quickly and become very dangerous, especially in higher elevations. For more winter recreation safety tips, click here.