Tiffany Slaton, a 27-year-old from Jeffersonville, Georgia, was found alive after surviving nearly three weeks in the snowy wilderness of California’s High Sierra. Christopher Gutierrez, the owner of Vermilion Valley Resort, discovered Slaton inside one of his cabins on Wednesday, just days after the Fresno County Sheriff’s Office had scaled back search efforts.
Slaton had been missing since April 29, when her parents reported her absence after not hearing from her for over a week. She was last seen near Shaver Lake on April 24 during her solo camping trip, a personal adventure before starting medical school. Slaton’s journey took her through nearly 600 square miles of rugged terrain, where she survived on wild leeks and endured a mountain blizzard before finding refuge in the cabin.
Gutierrez had intentionally left the cabin unlocked for stranded hikers needing shelter. “She pops out, didn’t say a word, just ran up, and all she wanted was a hug,” Gutierrez said during a news conference.
The Sheriff’s Office quickly arrived on the scene, finding Slaton dehydrated but otherwise in good health. She was taken to a hospital for further evaluation. Her father, Bobby Slaton, expressed immense relief and gratitude, calling it “one of the best days of their lives.”
Slaton’s survival was hailed as a testament to her resilience and survival skills. Her parents had instilled in her a love for the wilderness and the importance of self-reliance. “We believe that life is an adventure,” her mother, Fredrina Slaton, said. “It’s nice to know as parents that all the things we’ve taught her, she actually did.”
The Fresno County Sheriff’s Office plans to interview Slaton to learn more about her experience and how she managed to survive for so long in the harsh conditions.
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