Oregon Woman Found Alive After 2 Weeks in Wilderness

Doris Anderson was found Thursday and is in critical but stable condition after surviving the elements, alone in the mountains.

Doris Anderson Photo: Anderson family

(BAKER CITY, Ore.) - 76-year old Doris Anderson was missing for almost two weeks in the Wallowa Mountains of Eastern Oregon, and miraculously was found alive Thursday afternoon.

The Baker County Sheriff's Office said Ora Doris Anderson of Sandy had a hip injury and was dehydrated, but she was conscious and alert, when she was found just after 2 PM Thursday. A helicopter team was able to extricate her from the rugged terrain, and she was airlifted to a Baker City hospital.

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

State Trooper Chris Hawkins was searching with Baker County Sheriff's Deputy Travis Ash when they found Doris Anderson by a creek.

"How she managed to live for two weeks at the bottom of canyon, I don't know," said Iris Anderson, Doris's sister-in-law. "It took a lot more stamina than I have, I believe."

Doris Anderson had last been seen Aug. 24th in the Eagle Creek area, where she had gone bow hunting with her 74-year-old husband. Iris said Doris isn't much for hunting, but apparently didn't want her husband going alone after his hunting partner had to cancel.

The Andersons drove into the rugged mountains and canyons in a Chevy Tahoe 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 then attempted to walk out to a U.S. Forest Service road for help but both became exhausted. Harold Anderson told authorities that his wife headed back for the vehicle. A hunting party later found a disoriented Harold Anderson, but there was no sign of his wife.

About 70 volunteers a day combed the mountains for nearly a week looking for Doris Anderson until the search was scaled back in late August.

Overnight temperatures have dipped into the 30s over the last two weeks, and she was lightly dressed.

"I don't think there is very much chance of her being alive, not in that area," Sheriff Mitch Southwick said last week.

As the authorities had largely given up hope, the couple's two daughters hopes were also starting to falter, especially when the search got scaled back. Even her husband feared the worst.

"I think he kind of reconciled that she was gone and in heaven with her son who died years ago," Iris said, but that she maintained a strong sense that Doris was alive, but hidden in the brush. She lit candles and asked to God to help.

"My prayers are always answered, always," she said.