Search and Rescue Quickly Locate Missing Clam Beach Hiker

Press release from the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office:

Search and rescue feature and icon

On Feb. 6, 2023, at about 7:23 p.m., Humboldt County Sheriff’s deputies were dispatched to Clam Beach to conduct a search and rescue for a lost woman.

According to the reporting party, the 71-year-old missing woman was reportedly hiking on the beach with a small group of people when she decided to stay behind and rest while the group continued. The group reported the woman missing when she failed to return to the vehicle.

The Humboldt County Sheriff’s Special Services Division and officers with the Bureau of Land Management conducted a search of the area. Deputies located the woman unharmed in the dunes at approximately 8:38 p.m. The woman told deputies that she had gotten lost in the dunes while attempting to return to the vehicle. Due to nightfall, she decided to stay put and wait for help.

The Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office would like to thank the Bureau of Land Management, the United States Coast Guard – Sector Humboldt Bay and the Sheriff’s Search and Rescue Team for their coordination and assistance with this response.

The Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office urges the community to take extra precautions when hiking or recreating outdoors. Follow these tips to stay safe:

  • Always hike with a group, or at least one other person, and stay together.
  • Check the weather forecast before heading out to hike or camp and plan your trip accordingly.
  • Know your skill level and physical capabilities- choose trails within your or your group’s ability.
  • If doing a day hike, know what time the sun begins to set. Research the trail ahead of time and anticipate how long it will take to hike. Begin hiking early so that you will have plenty of daylight to get back.
  • Inform someone of your travel plans- let them know where you are going, your planned route, when you plan to return and emergency numbers to call if you do not return at the scheduled time.
  • Bring a charged cell phone with you in case of emergencies, but do not rely on cell service in all areas. For remote hikes where cell service is not available, consider bringing a Personal Locator Beacon or GPS phone.
  • Bring a flashlight, warm clothes, high energy snacks and water in case your hike goes longer than expected.
  • If you get lost, stop where you are and assess the situation. Try to determine your location. If you are sure you can get yourself out using a map and compass, do so- otherwise stay put.
  • If you or a member of your hiking/recreating party becomes lost, call law enforcement for help right away (as service allows). There is no required wait time to report a missing person.

If you are interested in assisting with future search and rescue operations, consider joining the Sheriff’s Search and Rescue Team. Learn more and apply at: humboldtsar.org

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13 Comments
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Gazoo
Guest
Gazoo
1 year ago

Great friends, who leaves behind a 71 year old person? No one in the group had the respect to at least walk this person back to the vehicle to keep warm?
Glad she was found safe and lives another day.

Last edited 1 year ago
Guest
Guest
Guest
1 year ago
Reply to  Gazoo

Maybe she didn’t want to go back either.

Gazoo
Guest
Gazoo
1 year ago
Reply to  Guest

Maybe you’re correct… then why didn’t one of her friends stay with her to make sure she stayed safe? They clearly dropped the ball and the poor lady had to sit in the cold and dark conditions at the beach till rescue workers found her. What part of any of this is ok with you?

Guest
Guest
Guest
1 year ago
Reply to  Gazoo

As a stubborn member of the same demographic, that is exactly what I would have refused. “No.no. I’ll be perfectly fine. You go on…” They did call for help. Probably after a number of tries to locate her themselves.

Xebeche
Guest
Xebeche
1 year ago
Reply to  Guest

I have learned to accept help with gratitude. I am 76, healthy & independent but smart enough to to know my limits. If I am too tired to go on, I might be too tired to get back on my own. If someone offers help, accept it with grace

Kiki Norton
Guest
Kiki Norton
1 year ago
Reply to  Gazoo

Hi Gazoo, your concern is great to hear. However, at 72 I don’t always need watching. I’m often the one who keeps going and leaves a friend behind. I’m guessing they were coming back for her and she decided not to wait. One really good point you made, always be sure someone checks out that the “resting person” is okay. My mom pulled the “you go ahead” on us one time but I was suspicious and questioned her. Turned out she needed food quick because of her diabetes and didn’t want to bother anyone. So it’s is always wise to be sure they are okay before you leave them alone.

Gazoo
Guest
Gazoo
1 year ago
Reply to  Kiki Norton

Thank you for your input, I hope everyone learned something from this and everyone has a good rest of the week. Good nite.

Bozo
Guest
Bozo
1 year ago

Dunes have changed radically over the past 30 years or so. In the ‘old days’, you could just walk east and heck, go through the grass, and no problem. Now, there are steep brushy overgrown dunes with water ponding in between them. Most of that area, there are only a few ways out of the beach.

Geologists have dug down in Clam Beach dunes… in the past it was a Spruce forest. An earthquake and tsunami 300 years ago pretty much leveled the dune area. Likely, in another 40 years or so it will again be a Spruce forest… (well, that is, pending subduction zone earthquakes).

Steve Koch
Guest
Steve Koch
1 year ago
Reply to  Bozo

Fascinating, thanks!

Steve Koch
Guest
Steve Koch
1 year ago
Reply to  Bozo

When you get to the beach, you have to look around for landmarks so you know where to leave. Kind of like parking in a big parking lot at a game or concert.

Cetan Bluesky
Guest
Cetan Bluesky
1 year ago

So very glad!!!! Hot meal, hot bath and a hot toddy will put it all right!

farfromputin
Member
farfromputin
1 year ago

This turned out quite well, and everyone involved learned the importance of STAYING TOGETHER WHILE HIKING!

oofta
Guest
oofta
1 year ago

Somebody please explain to me, how do you get lost in the dunes there? It’s all of 500 feet wide from the beach to the road.

https://www.google.com/maps/@40.9977204,-124.1139993,1133m/data=!3m1!1e3