INYO COUNTY, Calif. (KABC) — A missing Huntington Beach camper who vanished in the Inyo National Forest was found alive Friday, just hours after her dog was found.
Using aerial reconnaissance and thermal imaging, ground search teams found 60-year-old Sheryl Powell near the Montenegro Springs area, further below where her dog was located.
The Inyo County Sheriff's Office described Powell as "resilient and strong but exhausted" after being lost for days in an extremely remote area. She was transported to a local hospital for medical clearance.
Powell, who is described as an experienced hiker, disappeared near the Grandview Campground in the Bristlecone Pine Forest area July 12 around 2 p.m.
Her husband said she went to take their dog for a walk while he moved their Jeep. The dog, Miley, was found Monday morning about 2 miles from where Sheryl went missing, authorities said.
Powell is described as 5 feet 3 inches tall, 120 pounds, with brown hair, brown eyes. She may be wearing a purple top.
Several neighbors said Sheryl and her husband are avid campers and experienced hikers.
The sheriff's office determined that Sheryl's husband is not connected to her disappearance. Sheryl's daughter, Farrah, wrote on a GoFundMe page set up for search efforts that the family's major concern is the possibility of abduction.
"They go out there all the time. I knew if there was an SOS sent out, there must be something bad," Farrah told Eyewitness News via Skype.
Anyone with information can contact the Inyo County Sheriff's Office at 760-878-0383.
