Missing Hiker Searching For Treasure From Santa Fe Antiquities Dealer Found In New Mexico

Missing Treasure Hunter Found In New Mexico

A hiker searching for the treasure of an antiquities dealer was found in New Mexico after spending a night exposed to the frigid elements.

The 34-year-old woman from Texas was apparently lured to the rugged terrain around the Bandelier National Monument after hearing about $2 million worth of gold and jewels buried there by a Santa Fe antiquities trader, the Associated Press reported.

The woman, whose name has not been given out, arrived at the park near Los Alamos on Thursday, KWTX reported. Her boyfriend in Carrollton expected her back on Friday and when she didn't show up, he reported her missing to authorities.

Search and rescue teams found her a little after noon on Saturday, KOAT reported.

She'd missed a trail leading back to her car and took shelter for the night near a rock as temperatures dropped into the 30s in the mountains.

Bandelier National Monument officials said the unnamed hiker was following clues and a map laid out in Forest Fenn's book "The Thrill of the Chase," the Santa Fe New Mexican reported.

A segment on NBC's "Today" show featured the art and artifact trader's memoir last month and has sent sales spiraling, the Santa Fe New Mexican reported. Amateur treasure hunters dream of enriching themselves with the emerald ring, ruby bracelet, gold, diamonds and other valuables he said he buried in a bronze lockbox.

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