LOST WOMAN SAVED BY WRITING "HELP" WITH STICKS AND ROCKS

A 72-year-old woman and her dog survived in Arizona’s wilderness for nine days by drinking pond water. They were saved after rescuers spotted a “help” sign made out of sticks. Ann Rodgers, of Tucson, along with her dog, was driving to visit her grandkids in Phoenix when she ran out of gas and became stranded near the White River Indian Reservation on March 31. Rodgers attempted to climb several ridge lines to reach a place with cell phone reception, but was unable to call for help. Rodgers and her dog survived the next nine days by drinking pond water and eating plants. Rescuers discovered Rodgers’ car abandoned on the side of the road on April 3rd, but after a two day search were unable to find her. Then, on Saturday, a ranger saw Rodgers’ dog as it ran out of the Canyon Creek area. Rescuers were again deployed to search for Rodgers and found her later that day after an aerial search spotted a “help” sign written out of sticks and rocks. Underneath a rock used to spell out “help,” rescuers discovered a note written on April 3 by Rodgers saying she was out of water and food and was heading down the canyon. In the canyon, searchers located a makeshift shelter built by Rodgers. After rounding a bend in the canyon, they found Rodgers standing next to a signal fire and waving. Officials said that Rodgers was suffering from exposure, but was in fair condition. Just a few days ago, three men who were stranded on a remote island in the Pacific Ocean were saved after writing the word “help” in the sand with palm fronds.
* Palm fronds are so last week. We’re now on to sticks and rocks.
* REI has just come out with a sticks-and-rocks kit you can carry along when hiking in case you get lost.
* Nice of the grandkids to come looking for her. Where are they in this story?
* Wow, how many days till you start thinking about eating the dog?
* Hey, you know the dog’s thinking about eating you.
* This happened in Arizona’s wilderness? Okay, but the one last week was on an island in Micronesia.
* Not that we’re comparing or judging.