Yosemite National Park worker describes how walk turned into ordeal

Yosemite National Park (CA)
Search Underway For Missing Concession Employee

A search is currently underway for 23-year-old Jessica Rose Garcia, an employee of DNC Parks and Resorts at Yosemite, Inc., who did not show up for work at the Wawona Hotel as scheduled on Saturday morning. This was to be Jessica’s first day working at the hotel. Rangers checked at her park residence Saturday morning and found that she was not there. They determined that she’d last been seen walking east along Forest Drive near the stables in Wawona at approximately 11:30 a.m. that morning, and that she had just come from an orientation meeting with her supervisor at the Wawona Hotel. She was dressed in her work uniform, a dark green polo shirt with the DNC logo on it, black slacks and black Rockies work loafers. She was also wearing her dark green DNC jacket, which has the DNC logo on the left side of the chest. Garcia is a Hispanic female; she is 5’ 3” tall, weighs approximately 170 pounds, and has shoulder length black hair and brown eyes. Garcia is fit and hikes regularly. She is described as being shy and reserved around strangers. She was in possession of her cell phone and personal ID. Search and rescue teams include six dog teams, the park helicopter, rangers on horseback and 23 rangers on foot. The search area includes the South Fork of the Merced River and in and around the Wawona area. The park is asking for assistance with any information on Garcia’s whereabouts. Please call the Wawona Ranger Station at 209-375-9520, or Yosemite Dispatch at 209-379-1992, if you have any information on her.

Thank God she was found OK and thank heavens no foul play was involved.

Odd that she went hiking when she was supposed to report for work. Glad she was found ok.

My guess is that she simply decided to go on a short day hike between her orientation class and when her shift started and unfortunately she injured herself on the hike.

Stuff like that happens, unfortunately. Glad that she appears to be okay.
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Ahh ok, I read that wrong. I thought she had orientation the same day she was supposed to report for work, looks like she went hiking on Sat afternoon, then was to work on Sunday. Long time to be out, good thing temps have been mild.

Missing Employee Located Alive in Yosemite National Park
Date: October 9, 2012

Jessica Garcia, an employee of DNC Parks & Resorts at Yosemite, Inc., has been located alive after she was reported missing when she did not show up for work at the Wawona Hotel on Sunday, October 7, 2012. Garcia was located at approximately 1:00 p.m. this afternoon by a member of the Yosemite National Park Search and Rescue Team less than two miles up the South Fork Drainage of the Merced River in the southern portion of Yosemite National Park. She was hiking off-trail in this rugged area of the park. She will be transported to a local hospital for a medical evaluation.

Garcia was last seen at approximately 11:30 a.m. on Saturday morning, October 6, 2012, walking in the Wawona residential area. She had just attended an employee orientation session. When she did not show up for work on Sunday, October 7, the National Park Service was notified and search efforts were initiated.

Approximately 50 people were involved in the Search and Rescue operation today. This included 6 dog teams, 15 ground searchers, a Park Ranger on horseback, the park helicopter, and other personnel.

Yosemite National Park would like to extend its sincere thanks to the Tuolumne County Sheriff's Office, Madera County Sheriff's Office, Mariposa County Sheriff's Office, Fresno County Sheriff's Office, YoDogs (volunteers with search and rescue dogs) and the Marin County Sheriff's Office for their assistance in the search.

I started reading this thread and my heart sank -- so glad for the happy ending. And another shout-out for the under-appreciated search and rescue team and support.

First of all: Yay! for a happy ending.

Second of all: big plus 1 for SAR and support.

Thank you Search & Rescue!! Because that's what you do. So glad this turned out well.

Jessica's cousin signed in here and posted that Jessica has serious vertebrae damage, so we're all hoping all turns out for the best.

Here's the latest article about her accident from the Modesto Bee:

http://www.modbee.com/2012/10/10/2408540/yosemite-employee-recovering-from.html



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 10/11/2012 01:07AM by plawrence.

Nice to hear she was rescued, and hope she makes a full recovery. Did she slip off the dome or near Chil Falls?

Is it already known how this happened?