The Del Norte County Sheriff’s Office is searching for a 74-year-old Washington woman who was separated from her family while mushroom picking in the area of French Hill Road near Gasquet. 

Photo courtesy of Del Norte County Sheriff’s Office.

She was separated from her husband and adult daughter while navigating the woods on Friday evening, according to Del Norte County Sheriff Garrett Scott.

“Her husband showed up at the Gasquet Ranger Station around 8 p.m. [on Friday] and reported that he had been separated from his wife and daughter in the woods while mushroom picking,” Scott told the Outpost just before 5 p.m. “We did a preliminary search last night but because it’s so brushy and steep through the area, we decided to come back at first light this morning. … The U.S. Coast Guard brought in their helicopter and they were able to locate the adult daughter … but we’re still looking for her mother.”

Search and rescue teams will continue to search the area until nightfall, Scott said. Several team members will remain stationed near the family’s original campsite overnight. “Search efforts will resume tomorrow morning if we cannot find her this evening.”

Nearby residents are asked to stay out of the area for the time being. We’ll update this post when we know more.