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Girl safe after spending night in forest

A 12-year-old girl who wandered off from her fellow campers Wednesday night was found safe Thursday after spending a night alone in the San Juan National Forest south of Silverton.

The girl, who was with a group from Colvig Summer Camps, left the camp to go to the bathroom about 7:20 p.m. Wednesday in the Crater Lake area just south of Andrews Lake, said San Juan County Undersheriff Steve Lowrance. It was the third night of a four-night trip, according to a news release from Colvig Summer Camps.

Camp counselors searched for the girl for about 40 minutes before contacting Colvig’s office. Later, camp leaders contacted La Plata County Sheriff’s Office, which in turn contacted San Juan County officials. The sheriff’s office was notified of the missing girl at 10:44 p.m. and immediately began a search, Lowrance said.

San Juan County Search and Rescue members looked for the girl until 3:30 a.m. Thursday before calling off the search, he said. A Flight for Life helicopter from Mercy Regional Medical Center, which is equipped with night vision, assisted in the overnight search, he said.

Rescue workers resumed their search at 5:30 a.m.

A ground team was able to follow the girl’s footsteps and direct the helicopter to her near Crater Lake. She was spotted from the air about 11 a.m., and ground teams led her to safety, Lowrance said.

She was uninjured and returned to camp Thursday.

shane@durangoherald.com



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