Virginia Woman Lost in Western Md Forest; Found Hours Later

An Alexandria, Virginia, woman was lost for nearly five hours in a Western Maryland state forest after becoming separated while hiking Saturday night.

Jana Estep, 66, from Alexandria, was hiking with a friend in Potomac State Forest, located near Oakland, Maryland, when they became separated around 8 p.m. Saturday, according to the Maryland Department of Natural Resources. The two were looking for fiddlehead ferns, a leafy vegetable known to grow in the area.

After a 911 call, MDNR police put together a team of 30 searchers, two K-9 units, fire department volunteers, forest service volunteers and a group of deputy sheriffs. They set up a search area and turned on every light and siren on their vehicles while looking for Estep.

Spokeswoman Candy Thomson said Estep found her way to one of the vehicles sometime between 12:30 a.m. and 1 a.m. Sunday. Thomson said the woman was wet, cold and disoriented and was taken to a hospital for observation.

Thomson said Estep got lost in overgrown heavy vegetation. The spokeswoman said the area is heavily wooded and very rugged.

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