A 30-year-old woman, Caroline Meister, has been missing for four days following a day-trip hike in coastal California, as reported by authorities.
The Monterey County Sheriff’s Office and search and rescue teams are actively combing the trails near the Tassajara Zen Mountain Center in hopes of finding Meister. She embarked on her hike around 10 a.m. on Monday and was reported missing later that evening.
Meister had planned to navigate a trail that would lead her back to the Zen Center, but she also expressed interest in exploring the Windcave Trail. With only enough provisions for the day and without the proper attire or equipment for an overnight stay, concerns for her safety have escalated.
Having lived and worked at the Tassajara Zen Mountain Center for the past year and a half, Meister is well-acquainted with the area and is an experienced hiker, according to her father, John Meister. This has kept her parents hopeful for her safe return, they shared with Monterey Bay affiliate KSBW.
Meister is described as having long, brown, wavy hair, and was last seen wearing teal-colored boots and carrying a blue bag. She is 5 feet, 6 inches tall and weighs 150 pounds.
The sheriff’s office is urging anyone who was hiking in the vicinity of the Tassajara Zen Mountain Center on Monday and might have seen Meister, or anyone planning to hike in that area, to be vigilant and report any sightings to them at 831-755-5111.