Christopher Gutierrez, owner of the Vermilion Valley Resort, discovered missing hiker Tiffany Slaton in one of his cabins after she survived nearly three weeks alone in the wilderness. Found just after search efforts had been scaled back, Slaton was overjoyed upon reunion. Her parents, who were thousands of miles away, expressed immense relief and gratitude for the community and the search teams. Search operations covered 600 square miles in the Sierra to locate her since her disappearance was reported to authorities on April 29 after they hadnât heard from her for over a week.
"She pops out, didn't say a word, just ran up and all she wanted was a hug," Gutierrez said. "It was a pretty surreal moment and that's when I realized who this was."
"I just grabbed somebody, I said, 'Can I hug you?' And I did," Fredrina Slaton said. "I was crying and hugging."
"We are extremely excited and happy to hear the news that my daughter is now safe," Bobby Slaton said. "A ton of weight has been lifted..."
The Sheriff's Search and Rescue team scoured nearly 600 square miles of the High Sierra looking for Slaton from May 6 to 10.
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