Reports from Juneau, Alaska, indicate that authorities are conducting an extensive search for a 62-year-old woman who failed to return from a hiking expedition after disembarking from a cruise ship.
Dr. Marites Buenafe, a physician associated with the University of Kentucky Healthcare system, was a passenger aboard the Norwegian Bliss. On July 1st, at approximately 7:30 AM local time, Dr. Buenafe informed family members via text message of her intention to hike from Gold Ridge to Gastineau Peak, utilizing the Mount Roberts Tramway in Juneau.
Security footage confirms Dr. Buenafe’s presence at the tramway’s summit around the time of her message. The hiking trail in question is described by reliable sources as a challenging 4.1-mile route, typically requiring about three hours to complete. The cruise ship’s scheduled departure was set for 1:30 PM that same day.
Dr. Buenafe was reported missing at approximately 3:15 PM, nearly two hours after the ship’s planned departure. This development follows earlier reports that she had not returned to the vessel as expected.
According to the Alaska Department of Public Safety, a comprehensive search operation was promptly initiated. Juneau Mountain Rescue deployed ground teams and thermal drones, while helicopters from both the Alaska Wildlife Troopers and the U.S. Coast Guard conducted aerial sweeps of the area.
Despite the involvement of over a dozen professional volunteers, law enforcement officers, and specialized rescue teams, no sign of Dr. Buenafe has been found as of this report. Weather conditions have hampered some aspects of the search effort, particularly limiting helicopter operations.
This situation underscores the importance of proper preparation for backcountry excursions. Austin McDaniel, a spokesperson for the Department of Public Safety, emphasizes the critical need for hikers to inform others of their plans and to carry additional communication devices in areas where cell service may be unreliable.
