Esmeralda Marie Pineda, a 24-year-old woman from Sacramento, was found in the Northern California wilderness near Nevada City on Friday after being missing for 12 days. She was discovered severely dehydrated and emaciated at the top of a canyon near the Yuba River and Sweetland Creek. Pineda required immediate medical attention and was airlifted to a hospital for treatment. Her condition and the extent of her injuries are currently unknown, but law enforcement officials and search and rescue volunteers expressed gratitude for finding her alive.
Pineda was reported missing on August 26 from a mining camp near the Middle Fork of the Yuba River and Sweetland Creek. She had been camping with three friends when she expressed a desire to return to Sacramento on August 25. However, when her friends woke up the next day, Pineda was gone. They searched for her but found no signs of her whereabouts. The area where Pineda disappeared was described as treacherous, with no trail systems and steep canyon walls. Pineda was found atop the canyon, indicating that she had made a challenging climb.
Law enforcement officials and search and rescue volunteers conducted an extensive search for Pineda, rappelling into the canyon to look for her. The rough terrain posed challenges to the search efforts, but ultimately, Pineda was located by Sergeant Dustin Moe and his partner. Moe described the difficulty of the climb out of the canyon, emphasizing that it was not a simple walk but required climbing on hands and feet. Despite her ordeal, Pineda was able to wave at Moe and his partner when they found her, signaling that she was still conscious.
Upon being found, Pineda was airlifted from the canyon and taken to a hospital for medical treatment. Reports indicated that she was suffering from sun exposure, in addition to severe dehydration and emaciation. It remains unclear how Pineda managed to survive alone in the wilderness for nearly two weeks. Law enforcement officials and medical personnel are monitoring her condition and providing necessary care to aid in her recovery. Pineda’s friends and family, along with the community at large, expressed relief and gratitude that she was found alive after such a harrowing experience.
