A Colorado woman missing in a rugged and isolated area of eastern Utah left extensive notes in her car outlining where she had been hiking, including her arrival in a Utah state park before she disappeared, authorities said Tuesday afternoon.
Emery County Sheriff Lamar Guymon said that Rose Backhaus of New Castle left the notes in her 2004 Ford Explorer, which was discovered Monday in the parking lot of Goblin Valley State Park about 12 miles from Hanksville, Utah.
In the notes, said Guymon, Backhaus outlined where she had hiked and stayed the day before near Moab. She said she had arrived Nov. 16 at Goblin Valley State Park and was “happy.”
“She said it was warm, nice and something new,” said Guymon.
Guymon said that at the register at the parking lot, an individual from Colorado — without giving his or her name — signed in Nov. 16 and stated “Party of One.”
Guymon is leading the search for Backhaus, who was last seen in Moab on Nov. 16.
Guymon said that Backhaus, an experienced hiker, was not dressed for the colder weather that has moved into eastern Utah in recent days.
But he said that Backhaus may be alive.
“I always like to think positive,” said the sheriff. “If she can stay warm and hydrated, she can survive. We hope that is the case.”
Sgt. Bliss Mead said that the sheriff’s department, a volunteer “sheriff’s posse” and state park rangers were combing the 3,654-acre park 70 miles west of Moab.
Family and friends of the missing woman have arrived at the park.
As of 3:30 p.m. Tuesday, said Guymon, they had found no trace of Backhaus. He said that more searchers were due to arrive in the afternoon.
The search was scheduled to continue until sunset.
The ground parties are being helped by a helicopter from the Utah Department of Public Safety and a private aircraft.
Backhaus, 54, is described as being physically fit.
Howard Pankratz: 303-954-1939 or hpankratz@denverpost.com
