Latest news with #GoldRidge
Fox News
07-07-2025
- Health
- Fox News
Tourist who missed Norwegian cruise ship discovered dead on mountain trail in Alaska
A tourist who went missing after she failed to return to her cruise ship last week has been found dead. Marites Buenafe, 62, of Kentucky, was visiting Alaska's capital city when she did not return from a hike. The Alaska Department of Public Safety said her body was found by an Alaska Army National Guard helicopter crew late Thursday below the ridge line of Gold Ridge. Buenafe is listed as a doctor at UK HealthCare, a system of hospitals and clinics of the University of Kentucky. State troopers and Juneau Mountain Rescue were able to recover Buenafe's body with help from Temsco Helicopters and the National Guard. Her family has been notified of her death and her body will be sent to the state's medical examiner's office for an autopsy, the Associated Press reported. On July 1, the Juneau Police Department heard from Buenafe's relatives that she had left for a hike that morning and had plans to take a popular tourist tram partially up a mountain overlooking downtown Juneau before walking to Gastineau Peak and Gold Ridge, according to the state Department of Public Safety. She had gotten off the Norwegian Bliss and did not return to the vessel by its departure time. Norwegian Cruise Line did not immediately respond to a Fox News Digital request for comment.
Yahoo
06-07-2025
- Yahoo
Body of Alaska cruise passenger found 1,700 feet below ridge line of intended hike
The body of a Norwegian Cruise Line passenger who went missing in Alaska has been recovered. Marites Buenafe, 62, vanished Tuesday after texting her family that she was going for a hike in Juneau, according to an Alaska State Troopers missing persons bulletin. She was reported missing after not returning to the Norwegian Bliss on time that afternoon. On Thursday, an Alaska Army National Guard helicopter spotted her body roughly 1,700 feet below the ridge line of the area she planned to hike, state troopers shared in an update via Juneau Police. 'Troopers and Juneau Mountain Rescue were able to recover her body with the assistance of Temsco Helicopters and the National Guard,' read the troopers' Facebook post, which thanked the agencies and volunteers involved. State troopers said Buenafe texted her family at around 7:30 a.m. Tuesday, saying she was headed to Mount Roberts Tramway and planned to hike Gold Ridge to Gastineau Peak. Security footage showed her leaving the buildings at the top of Mount Roberts Tramway at about that time. She was supposed to return to the Norwegian Bliss by 1 p.m. that day, for the ship's scheduled 1:30 p.m. departure. A Norwegian spokesperson said multiple attempts were made to contact the guest before the ship departed. CruiseMapper shows the Bliss continuing on its week-long Alaska cruise sailing, which originated in Seattle on June 28. Multiple agencies searched the Gold Ridge area until Buenafe's body was recovered below the ridge line of Gold Ridge at around noon Thursday. 'Her next of kin have been notified, and her body will be sent to the state medical examiner's office for autopsy,' according to Alaska State Troopers. Norwegian told USA TODAY it's assisting local authorities in the investigation. Also, 'Our CARE team is providing support to the guest's family and our thoughts are with them during this difficult time.' Contributing: Nathan Diller, USA TODAY This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Alaska cruise passenger's body found after she didn't return from hike
Daily Mail
05-07-2025
- Health
- Daily Mail
Body of cruise passenger is discovered after she failed to return to the boat at Alaska port
A cruise ship passenger's body was discovered late Thursday in the rugged terrain above Alaska 's capital city. Marites Buenafe, 62, of Kentucky, ventured off her cruise ship for a hike near Juneau, before being found dead below the ridgeline of Gold Ridge after she failed to return to the vessel. Her disappearance had sparked an extensive search involving state troopers, Juneau Mountain Rescue, and air support from both Temsco Helicopters and the Alaska Army National Guard. It was a National Guard helicopter crew that ultimately spotted her body in the remote alpine area, bringing a grim end to the search effort. Her remains were recovered with the help of rescue teams and air support, officials said. The Alaska Department of Public Safety reported that Buenafe's next of kin have been notified and that her body will be transported to the state medical examiner's office for autopsy to determine the exact cause of death. Buenafe, an physician with UK HealthCare, was on a family vacation when she told relatives she planned to ride the Mount Roberts Tramway and hike the trail from Gold Ridge to Gastineau Peak while the sprawling cruise ship docked in Juneau. She was last seen on security footage around 7:30 a.m. on July 1, leaving the buildings at the upper station of the Mount Roberts Tramway, according to a bulletin issued by Alaska State Troopers on Wednesday. Her absence was discovered after she failed to return to the ship before its scheduled 1:30 p.m. departure. After confirming she had not re-boarded, her family alerted authorities, prompting a multi-agency search effort. A Norwegian Cruise Line spokesperson later confirmed the search for the missing doctor. 'An active search is ongoing, and we are providing assistance to local authorities as appropriate. Our CARE team is providing support to the guest's family, and our thoughts are with them during this difficult time,' the luxury cruise line spokesperson said. Alaska State Troopers led the search efforts, with support from Juneau Mountain Rescue, Juneau Police Department, the U.S. Coast Guard, and search-and-rescue dogs from Southeast Alaska Dogs Organized for Ground Search (SEADOGS), The New York Times reported. Teams of volunteers searched the local Mount Roberts area on foot, as well as deploying drones and helicopters. However, officials noted that poor weather limited the effectiveness of air operations. Buenafe was on a family cruise when she told relatives she planned to ride the Mount Roberts Tramway and hike the trail from Gold Ridge to Gastineau Peak while the boat stopped at a port in Juneau The search was concentrated in the mountains just south of downtown Juneau, which Austin McDaniel, a spokesperson for the Department of Public Safety emphasized is not considered a remote area. Though popular with tourists and locals, the trail winds through steep and densely wooded terrain that can quickly become dangerous due to unpredictable mountain weather. 'Backcountry travel in Alaska, even close to town, can present serious challenges,' Alaska State Troopers said in a statement. 'We urge anyone venturing into these areas to hike with a partner, carry communication gear, and leave a detailed plan with someone.' A description for the missing woman was issued after her disappearance, she was was described as 5 feet tall, approximately 118 pounds, with short black hair and brown eyes. The Norwegian Bliss continued its scheduled route, with upcoming stops in Icy Strait Point, Ketchikan, and Victoria before returning to Seattle.
Yahoo
04-07-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Body of hiking cruise passenger found in Alaska
July 4 (UPI) -- Rescuers in Alaska recovered the body of a 62-year-old woman who went on a hike in the mountains near Juneau after leaving the Norwegian Bliss cruise ship. Marites Buenafe, a medical doctor from Kentucky, was a passenger on the Norwegian Bliss, which was a seven-day round-trip from Seattle. Her body was found on Thursday, the Alaska Department of Public Safety State Troopers announced. Around 7:30 a.m. Tuesday, she texted family members that she was going up going up Mount Roberts Tramway in Juneau and would hike from Gold Ridge to Gastineau Peak, the troopers reported. Security footage showed Buenafe at the top of the tramway. The 4-mile hike is challenging and usually takes three hours, hiking website AllTrails states. The ship was scheduled to depart around 1:30 p.m. At around 3:15, Buenafe was reported missing. Juneau Mountain Rescue searched on the ground and used thermal drones to scan the area, the Alaska Department of Public Safety said. Also, an Alaska Wildlife Troopers helicopter and a U.S. Coast Guard helicopter conducted aerial searches, the department said. The search continued Wednesday with more than a dozen professional volunteers, as well as Juneau police officers, Alaska state troopers and Juneau Mountain Rescue. Also utilized were drones and K-9s. Helicopter use was limited because of windy conditions. The search resumed Thursday. At 11:56 a.m., Alaska Army National Guard helicopter crew located Buenafe's body some approximately 1,700 feet below the ridge line of Gold Ridge, the Alaska Department of Public Safety said. Crews then recovered her body, which was taken to the state medical examiner's office for autopsy. Buenafe was listed on the University of Kentucky Healthcare system's website as a doctor. DPS spokesperson Austin McDaniel told KYES-TV it is important to inform somebody of hiking plans. "If you don't return on time, they can alert first responders, alert search and rescue teams, the troopers, so we can immediately begin formulating a plan and activating resources to help get you out of the field," McDaniel said.
Yahoo
04-07-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Body of missing UK Healthcare employee Marites Buenafe found in Alaska, police say
The body of a missing Kentucky woman and University of Kentucky Healthcare doctor was found July 3 in Alaska. Alaska Wildlife Troopers were notified July 1 when 62-year-old Marites Buenafe of Kentucky was overdue from a hike near Mount Roberts. Buenafe had departed a cruise ship that morning with plans to hike Gold Ridge to Gastineau Peak, according to a press release from the Alaska State Troopers. The Juneau Mountain Rescue started conducting a search operation to find Buenafe including an aerial search. The search efforts were paused overnight and resumed July 2 with the use of a dog team. On July 3, the search continued, with dozens of troopers, dogs, volunteers and drones. Weather conditions limited the use of helicopter searches. Just before noon on July 3, "an Alaska Army National Guard helicopter crew located Marites' body approximately 1,700 feet below the ridge line of Gold Ridge," the press release stated. The body of Marites was recovered and next of kin have been notified. Her body will be sent to a medical examiner for an autopsy. Contact business reporter Olivia Evans at oevans@ or on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter at @oliviamevans_. This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Missing UK Healthcare employee's body found in Alaska, police say
