Woman missing for 12 days found alive, emaciated, in remote California canyon

A Sacramento woman who was missing for 12 days was found last week "severely dehydrated and emaciated," according to police.

Deputies from the Nevada County Sheriff’s Office found Esmeralda Pineda, 24, on Sept. 6, after she went missing on Aug. 26 from a mining claim camp in Nevada City, California, according to a press release from the sheriff's office.

Pineda was airlifted to a hospital for treatment, and her condition is unknown.

“The Sheriff’s Office and our search and rescue volunteers covered extensive ground throughout our search,and we are thankful today to find her alive,” said NCSO Sergeant Dustin Moe in a statement.

Where was Pineda found?

On Friday, at 12:41 p.m. local time, Pineda was found on top of a canyon near the Yuba River and Sweetland Creek in Nevada City, about 73 miles northeast of Sacramento, according to police.

Pineda needed immediate medical attention and was airlifted from the canyon by 1:20 p.m. and taken to a hospital, authorities said. The North San Juan Fire Department also responded to the call to provide medical assistance.

When she went missing, authorities believed she might have been trying to return to the Sacramento region.

She went missing in a 'treacherous' area

The search for Pineda began the same day she went missing in what police said was an area "treacherous in nature."

The Nevada County Sheriff’s Search and Rescue volunteers were required to "rappel into and out of the canyon to look for her."

When she was found, two deputies were searching the more mountainous parts of the area to look for her.