Arizona woman, 72, found after 9 days stranded in the wilderness

A missing Arizona woman was found over the weekend after rescuers discovered several clues she left behind as she moved through the wilderness.

Ann Rodgers, 72, and her dog were stranded in the Gila County wilderness for nine days, and survived by eating plants and berries and drinking creek water. The Arizona Department of Public Safety says Rodgers was headed to Phoenix from Tucson on March 31 when she ran out of gas and got lost while trying to find a station. Unable to get cellphone reception, she kept walking through the wilderness, leaving behind various hints — on April 3, her car was found, and later rescuers spotted the word "HELP" spelled out in sticks and rocks. Rodgers left behind a letter dated April 3 that said she was headed down the canyon in search of food and water. On Saturday, a helicopter search party finally found Rodgers after rounding a bend in a canyon and seeing her waving while standing next to a fire.

White Mountain Apache Tribe Game and Fish Det. Johnny Holmes told the Arizona Republic Rodgers played a major role in her rescue by "giving our guys clues to find and follow where she was." Rodgers was suffering from exposure and taken to the hospital in fair condition; she has since been released. Professional survival instructor Cody Lundin said most people who are rescued in the wilderness are found within three days or less, and for Rodgers to have made it nine days is "very rare, statistically abnormal, and freakish."

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