The beauty of the Alaskan wilderness has become the setting for a search and rescue operation, as emergency crews race against time to find a cruise ship passenger who went on a solo hike in Juneau yesterday and is still missing.
According to local news outlets, Marites Buenafe, a 62-year-old from Kentucky, was last seen around 7:30 a.m. Tuesday as she left the Norwegian Cruise Line ship, Norwegian Bliss. She had told her family she intended to hike Gold Ridge and Gastineau Peak, starting from the Goldbelt Tramway at the top of Mount Roberts.
But Buenafe never returned to the cruise ship and missed the departure time which was at 1:30 p.m.
The search effort is being led by Alaska State Troopers, with support from Juneau Mountain Rescue, the Juneau Police Department, and SEADOGS (Southeast Alaska Dogs for Organized Ground Search).
On Tuesday night, search and rescue teams conducted extensive ground and aerial searches, making use of everything at their disposal. This included helicopters and thermal drones to scan the mountainous terrain.
The ground search is continuing throughout Wednesday afternoon.
Buenafe is described as 5 feet, 1 inch tall, with short black hair and brown eyes. Anyone with information is urged to contact authorities.
The Gold Ridge and Gastineau Peak trails are known for their challenging ascents and stunning views, but can also have steep drops, rocky sections, and snow patches even in summer.
Looking for the Best Cruise Deals?
Search Multiple Sites at Once
Instant Real Time Pricing
Search Now
