79-year-old woman spends unplanned night in Alaska forest

JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) — A 79-year-old cruise ship passenger got lost on a solo hike near an Alaska glacier and spent a night in the forest without camping gear but walked to safety the next day.

Nikki Hinds, assistant director of the visitor center, said the woman left on an independent hike of the East Glacier Trail and veered onto the Nugget Creek Trail.

Juneau police organized a multiagency search and looked for the hiker until midnight.

Police and cruise ship employees called tour groups and hotels seeking information.

Police officers picked the woman up from the glacier and drove her to the airport.