Cruise guest goes missing during Alaska hike
A cruise ship passenger remains missing in Alaska after failing to return to her ship.
Marites Buenafe, 62 from Kentucky, said she planned to hike the Gold Ridge to Gastineau Peak near Juneau and hasn’t been seen since.
When she didn’t return to the ship the Department of Public Safety was alerted.
That led to a search operation by Juneau Mountain Rescue and Southeast Alaska Dogs, as well as helicopter and thermal drone tracking.
She was a passenger on the Norwegian Bliss cruise ship.
She told family members she planned to ride the Goldbelt Tram up to the top of Mount Roberts and then hike the Gold Ridge and Gastineau Peak trail alone.
It is classed as a ‘moderately challenging’ hike.
Poor weather and limited visibility has hampered aerial searches so far.
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Editor for TravelMole North America and Asia pacific regions. Ray is a highly experienced (15+ years) skilled journalist and editor predominantly in travel, hospitality and lifestyle working with a huge number of major market-leading brands. He has also cover in-depth news, interviews and features in general business, finance, tech and geopolitical issues for a select few major news outlets and publishers.
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