Elderly woman found alive two weeks after disappearing on hunting trip

Elderly woman was found alive in the US mountains after she disappeared two weeks ego.

Photo: Elderly woman found alive two weeks after disappearing on hunting trip

Ora Doris Anderson, 76-year-old woman, had suffered a hip injury and was dehydrated, but she was conscious and alert, the Baker County Sheriff's Office said. A helicopter team went to the scene to extricate her from the rugged terrain Thursday, and she was to be airlifted to a Baker City hospital.

George Winn, the CEO of St. Elizabeth Health Services, said Anderson was in critical, but stable condition and was being admitted to the intensive care unit.

Authorities had largely given up hope of finding Anderson, who was lightly dressed in an area where temperatures had dropped near freezing over the past two weeks. About 70 volunteers a day combed the Wallowa Mountain of Eastern Oregon until the search was scaled back in late August.

Anderson had last been seen Aug. 24 in the Eagle Creek area, where she had gone bow hunting with her 74-year-old husband, Harold.

The Andersons had driven into the rugged mountains and canyons in a sport utility vehicle pulling a utility trailer. The vehicle got stuck, and Harold Anderson broke his wrist while unloading an all-terrain vehicle from the trailer.

The couple tried to walk to a U.S. Forest Service road for help but became exhausted. Harold Anderson said his wife headed back for the vehicle. A hunting party later found a disoriented Harold Anderson, but there was no sign of his wife.