A Kentucky woman who failed to return to her cruise ship after leaving for a hike near Juneau, Alaska, was found dead on Thursday morning. Dr. Marites Buenafe, 62, a physician based in Lexington, left her cruise ship earlier this week, telling friends and family she intended to hike from Gold Ridge to Gastineau Peak after riding the Mount Roberts Tramway. She last texted family early Tuesday and was later seen on security footage at the top of the tram around 7:30 a.m. However, she failed to return before the cruise ship’s 1:30 p.m. departure, prompting a search effort involving dogs, helicopters, and ground teams. Her body was discovered roughly 1,700 feet below Gold Ridge by an Alaska Army National Guard helicopter crew. The mountainous area south of downtown Juneau is a popular and accessible hiking location but sees multiple rescue operations annually, local officials said. Alaska Department of Public Safety Spokesman Austin McDaniel warned that even seemingly simple excursions in Alaska’s wilderness can quickly become perilous with one misstep.
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