Geraldine Larg, an avid hiker and loving grandmother, set out to hike the 2,290-mile Appalachian Trail in 2013. She had already trekked roughly 900 miles when she disappeared into the dense forest. Her husband was waiting for her 20 miles away in a parking lot, but she never arrived. It took two years for her disappearance to be solved. Geraldine, also known as Jerry, was a healthy and fit woman in her sixties, passionate about the environment, and determined to finish her goal of hiking the entire trail.
She had a plan to make the journey easier by having her husband drive to various checkpoints to give her supplies. However, she became lost while trying to find a place to urinate and couldn’t remember how to get back to the trail. She texted her husband for help but didn’t receive a response due to a lack of signal. Jerry continued walking deeper into the forest, pitching a tent and waiting for rescue. However, she was eventually found alive but had been missing for over two years. The search teams had focused on various theories, including the possibility of foul play or an encounter with a bear, but none of them led to her whereabouts. Jerry eventually succumbed to her fate, leaving behind a tragic story of determination and misfortune.
A missing person’s case was recently solved when the body of the missing woman, identified as Jerry, was found with her journal. The journal’s last entry was dated August 18th, but authorities are unsure if this is accurate, as it meant she had been alive for 26 days after the missing person’s report. Jerry’s tent was found about 2 miles north of the trail and only 30 minutes from lodging. Despite the proximity to help, Jerry wrote heartfelt letters to each of her loved ones up until the end. George, Jerry’s husband, is grateful for those who searched for Jerry, with over 130 certified people assisting. American author Doan was inspired by Jerry’s story and wrote a best-selling novel about her. Doan believes that the rescuers could not have done anything differently and hopes that his book helps others save themselves if they find themselves in the woods.
