Missing hiker found dead near Monterey County park water fall

The body of the hiker who was reported missing earlier this week was found Friday.

The Monterey County Sheriff’s Office announced the end of the search for Caroline Meister, who was pronounced dead on Friday. Her body was found off the “Cut Off” trail at the base  of a waterfall.

Search and rescue teams used a high-angle search, rappelling down the steep drop off and finding Meister’s body. They confirmed she had died at the scene.

Meister, 30, went missing Monday after leaving the Tassajara Zen Mountain Center near Carmel Valley in the Ventana Wilderness, for a morning hike. The Monterey County Sheriff’s Office Search and Rescue Team, in addition to more than 100 search and rescue personnel from other agencies worked to look for Meister and bring her home.

Sheriff Tina Nieto said they will wait for the forensic examination to determine the official cause of death, but authorities do not suspect foul play and believe it was accidental. Nieto said Meister’s injuries were consistent with a fall.

Nieto added that Meister was an experienced hiker who lived in the area and was well acquainted with the trails.

Carlos Pena, with the search and rescue team, said they used clues to find Meister’s location. While speaking to other people, they found that she made a comment about the Horse Pasture trail

“That (water) fall was one of the critical incidents of that trail as far as it being in danger,” Pena said. “So that was notated early on in our investigation.”