Hawaii 24/7 Staff

A hiker was found safe Thursday near the 23 mile marker of Saddle Road after spending the night on the mountain.

More than one dozen rescue personnel from the fire department, Pohakuloa Training Area, and the Forestry & Wildlife division were involved in the search, along with aerial support from Chopper 1.

The 59-year-old woman was hiking with friends and family when she separated from the group due to illness.

She went missing just before 2 p.m. Wednesday after she began to feel the effects of the 12,500-foot elevation and decided to return to her vehicle.

Thursday morning, she was able to make her way to Saddle Road and was picked up by two Good Samaritans, who drove her back to Hilo.

The woman has been identified in published reports as Jennifer Ho, wife of Sierra Club’s Moku Loa Group chairman Nelson.