Date: August 3, 2007

The search continues today for a missing backpacker in the wilderness area east of Merced Lake in Yosemite National Park. Ottorrina Bonaventura, 80, was reported missing on July 30, 2007 when she separated from her group and failed to return to the Vogelsang High Sierra Camp where she was staying.

Over 130 searchers from Marin, Madera, Mono, Ventura, Santa Clara, Contra Costa, Santa Barbara, and Fresno counties, as well as from the Bay Area Mountain Rescue Unit, China Lake Mountain Rescue, the National Park Service, and DNC Parks and Resorts in Yosemite, Inc. are participating in the search effort. Dog teams and helicopters are being used as well.

Ms. Bonaventura is described as being 5' tall with dyed blond hair and brown eyes. She is an experienced hiker.

Search managers are asking that anyone who has been in Yosemite's backcountry east of Merced Lake and south of Tuolumne Meadows please contact them EVEN IF THEY DID NOT SEE ANYONE MATCHING HER DESCRIPTION.

The Incident Investigations Unit can be reached at 209/372-0778.