Yaak woman, 79, survives night in woods

A 79-year-old Yaak woman was found cold and wet but “in good spirits” Saturday after getting lost and spending the night in the woods, according to rescuers.

The woman’s two Australian shepherd-cross puppies cuddled up next to her through the night, keeping her warm.

“I understand that she found a spot between a couple of little logs and sat,” said Valerie Albert, who fielded calls for David Thompson Search and Rescue. “One dog stayed in front of her and one behind her.”

The weather was also 20 degrees warmer than it had been the previous night, DTSAR’s Terry Crooks said.

“With the change of weather and two dogs staying with her,” Crooks said, “she was able to survive.”

The woman left her Vinal Lake Road home at 6:40 Friday night with three dogs, and was found a little after 11 a.m. Saturday across a creek and approximately 800 feet from her home, according to Crooks.

The woman told rescuers that she became disoriented. At one point she had fallen into the creek and gotten wet, Crooks said. Albert suspects she fell in the morning as she was attempting to cross the water and head home.

DTSAR used two search dogs and about 10 ground rescuers, said Crooks, to go through the thick brushy area. Neighbors joined in the search, as well.

“We made sweeps where she was last believed to have been,” Crooks said. “When one team crossed over (the creek), they heard (her) dogs barking.”

The eight-month-old puppies responded to the search dogs, alerting the team to the woman who lay somewhat hidden in the brush.

“That was a blessing,” Crooks said. “The dogs barking and giving us direction of travel certainly expedited the search.”

The woman’s family became worried Friday evening when one of the three dogs she took on a walk returned home without her. They looked for her, but didn’t cross the creek during their search. They called 911 at 3:13 a.m., and sheriff officers responded.

DTSAR began the search at dawn.

The woman suffered “no apparent injuries,” Crooks said, but was transported to the hospital to be checked out.

“She was wet, very cold, but in good spirits,” Crooks said.