Hiker, daughter found in Haleakala
By Christie Wilson
Neighbor Island Editor
A California woman and her 3-year-old daughter who were reported missing Monday night inside Haleakala National Park found shelter at a cabin and hiked out yesterday afternoon.
Search teams on horseback found Julie Reinganum, of Mill Valley, and her daughter, Maya, yesterday morning as they were making their way toward the Halemau'u Trail that leads out of the crater, said chief ranger Karen Newton.
"They're in good shape," Newton said. "They spent the night at the cabin, so they were warm, dry and fed."
The two had taken the Sliding Sands Trail into the crater Sunday with a friend, Nadine Newlight of Maui, and the three stayed at Kapalaoa Cabin that night.
On Monday, they had planned to hike across the crater floor to the Halemau'u Trail, but bad weather made them decide to take the shorter route back up the Sliding Sands Trail, Newton said. About three miles from the trailhead, at the 8,000-foot level, conditions worsened and Reinganum decided at about 3 p.m to return to the cabin with her daughter.
Once at the cabin, they were aided by a Los Angeles man and his 11-year-old son who were spending the night there, Newton said.
Meanwhile, Newlight, who was suffering from hypothermia, apparently became confused and got lost on the trail. She finally made her way out at 7:35 p.m. and reported her friends missing. Newlight was treated at Maui Memorial Medical Center and released.
Rangers searched the area around the two trailheads for about two hours Monday night before the effort was called off. Newton said visibility was limited and winds were gusting to 65 mph. Although the temperature was 40 degrees, the wind chill factor made it below 10 degrees, she said.
Two pairs of rangers on horseback entered the crater yesterday morning and found Reinganum and her daughter resting near Holua Cabin, about four miles from the Halemau'u Trailhead. The two were escorted to safety and made it out of the crater at 2:35 p.m.
Newton said it's not unusual for hikers to take young children, even infants, into the crater, but anyone who does should expect to carry them at some point. She said Reinganum is an experienced climber.
Anyone hiking into Haleakala should make sure everyone in the party has a map, Newton advised, and stop at each trail junction and check the map to reconfirm their location. With the park's unpredictable weather, it's also wise to wear layered clothing suitable for a variety of weather conditions.
Newton said people hiking as a group should make emergency plans together so that if they become separated, they can anticipate what the others are going to do.
Staff writer Brandon Masuoka contributed to this report.
