Rescuers seek Colorado woman in Goblin Valley

Searchers are going through eastern Utah's Goblin Valley area looking for a Colorado woman who has been missing for more than a week.

Rose Backhaus, 54, was last seen checking out of a Moab motel on Nov. 16. For the past week, police in Grand and San Juan counties have been looking for her. On Monday, Backhaus' sport utility vehicle was found parked at the Little Wild Horse Canyon trailhead in Emery County.

"She likes to hike," Emery County Sheriff's Sgt. Bliss Mead told the Deseret News on Tuesday. "Whether she's prepared or not, we don't know. I'm sure she's not dressed for the type of weather she's out in if she's been there for very long."

The sheriff's department has been out hiking the trail and on all-terrain vehicles to search for Backhaus on the ground. A Utah Department of Public Safety helicopter and a private plane are being used to look for her.

The search was put on hold late Tuesday night, but searchers expect to resume their efforts at first light on Wednesday.

The area is popular, but Mead said no one hiking the trail on Monday had reported seeing any sign of Backhaus.

"We're just looking hard and hoping we find her soon," he said.

Backhaus is described as white, about 5-feet-7, 140 pounds with brown curly hair and blue eyes. Anyone with information is asked to call the Emery County Sheriff's Office at 435-381-2404.

— Ben Winslow