Lost and alone in the wilds of the Colorado backcountry for four nights, Gina Chase realized there was only one person she could rely on for survival: herself.

On Aug. 14, Chase, from Victoria, set out on a solo trip into the woods in the Lone Cone mountain area, outside the town of Norwood in the western U.S. state.

When the 53-year-old, who was was part of a group of campers on solo quests organized by Animas Valley Institute, failed to report at her daily check-in, a search and rescue mission was deployed, led by the San Miguel County Sheriff含羞草研究社檚 office.

For days, dozens of deputies and volunteers navigated difficult terrain and dense underbrush and trees, searching for Chase. Aircraft resources and canine search units also joined the search. 

It wasn含羞草研究社檛 until Aug. 18, after she had spent four nights alone, Chase was found.

Media outlets at the time labelled Chase as a 含羞草研究社榲ictim含羞草研究社�, a woman needing 含羞草研究社榬escue含羞草研究社�. But for Chase, her experience was a different one; it was a tale of strength, resilience and empowerment.

含羞草研究社淣obody rescued me, I had to rescue myself,含羞草研究社� said Chase.

"It just burned me,含羞草研究社� Chase continued about the news headlines. 含羞草研究社淚 don't want to take away anything from the search and rescue teams and their efforts, they are amazing and heroes no matter what. But it's quite important for my personal story, my journey, that people know I actually saved myself.含羞草研究社�

Noticing a drop in the number of helicopters and planes searching for her overhead, on her third day alone, Chase says she began to fear that the rescue teams would give up on finding her.

And after spending her fourth night sheltering from a thunder and lightening storm, Chase decided it was 含羞草研究社渄o or die,含羞草研究社� setting off on the morning of Aug. 19 to find her own way back to civilization.

含羞草研究社淚 didn't feel like sitting there and waiting for rescue, that was not an option anymore,含羞草研究社� said Chase. 含羞草研究社淓ither I was going to find people, or die trying.含羞草研究社�

After picking a direction of travel, Chase slowly began to recognize landmarks, which eventually led her back to a trail and then to her group含羞草研究社檚 base camp.

Here she intercepted search and rescue volunteers readying themselves for another day scouring the rough terrain.

Chase says she hopes that her tale of survival will serve as story of female empowerment.

含羞草研究社淣ot needing to be rescued, rescuing yourself 含羞草研究社� that含羞草研究社檚 a really empowering part of it for me, and something that含羞草研究社檚 transformational,含羞草研究社� she said.

But Chase's own 'rescue' was only a small part of her tale of survival in the wilds of Colorado.

About how her incredible story began, Chase remembers the moment she got lost. 

Camped only 10 minutes from the group含羞草研究社檚 base camp, Chase headed out on the afternoon of Aug. 14 to a designated spot where she could 含羞草研究社榗ommunicate含羞草研究社� with her designated 含羞草研究社榖uddy含羞草研究社� - the pair would move a rock at different times of the time to show that the other was well.

含羞草研究社淚 just got turned around,含羞草研究社� said Chase. 含羞草研究社淚 tried to correct, and then I tried a little more, and then I heard the creek 含羞草研究社� but then I got down there and it was a different creek.含羞草研究社�

Chase tried to call for help by blowing her whistle, but her calls went unanswered.

With signs of bears and cougars in the area and the sun starting to set, Chase realized that time was running out for her.

含羞草研究社淚 felt scared and upset that I had only lasted for a short time,含羞草研究社� said Chase. 含羞草研究社淎nd then something just clicked, and I thought, this is survival now.含羞草研究社�

Inspired by reality television shows such as 含羞草研究社楢lone含羞草研究社� and 含羞草研究社楴aked and Afraid: Alone含羞草研究社�, which challenge contests to fend for themselves in remote locations, Chase built her own shelter for the night.

含羞草研究社淚 just turned into this really smart, careful, calculating version of myself,含羞草研究社� Chase said. 含羞草研究社淚 had little room for emotion."

For survival, Chase had with her a bag packed full of gear, including an emergency food stash, a first-aid kit, blanket, pocket knife, a whistle and a head lamp.

And contrary to reports from the sheriff含羞草研究社檚 office that Chase and her fellow campers were encouraged to not bring any personal digital devices on their solo journeys, she had her cell phone with her.

含羞草研究社淚 was sending emergency calls and they failed because there was no cell service,含羞草研究社� said Chase, who used her phone to document her adventures.

For water, Chase created a water filtration system using a medical mask and gloves. Days later she used a bark trough, charcoal and moss to filter water. Band-aid wrappers helped Chase to start fires to keep warm, which she also used to create smoke signals for the circling planes and helicopters above her.

含羞草研究社淚 was doing a lot of things to just signal the helicopters,含羞草研究社� said Chase, who also tried waving an emergency blanket and a bright yellow pack cover to attract attention. 含羞草研究社淚t would pass right over me and not see me,含羞草研究社� she said.

With only her mind for company, Chase says she drew on classic pop songs from the seventies and eighties for comfort and inspiration.

含羞草研究社淭he first one was, 含羞草研究社業 Will Survive含羞草研究社�,含羞草研究社� said Chase. 含羞草研究社淚t was almost annoying. But my mind was just keeping me upbeat and I just trusted that.

含羞草研究社淲hen I thought about the male search and rescue volunteers that were going to find me 含羞草研究社� I had this song in my head, 含羞草研究社業t's Raining Men含羞草研究社�, all day long."

But at times dark thoughts crept into her mind.

含羞草研究社淚 knew it was a dangerous situation and that there was the possibility that I could die there,含羞草研究社� said Chase. 含羞草研究社淏ut when my mind wandered there, I was just like, 含羞草研究社楴ot today含羞草研究社�. And I just got thinking of what else can I do. What else can I do to make this a better situation.含羞草研究社�

含羞草研究社淚 was just so determined to not die that there wasn't time for doubt or fear or anything,含羞草研究社� she added.

Describing the moment she found the search and rescue volunteers, Chase says they were so happy to see her and that she was overwhelmed to see the "mind-blowing" number of people involved in the search.

"I felt guilty for causing such an ordeal, such a big operation,含羞草研究社� said Chase. "But they were all like, 'You have made our day, we are going home so happy. This is the best possible outcome to find you alive.' It was phenomenal ... like overwhelming gratitude that all these people had come out to find me and to search for me."

Back home in Victoria, Chase says that she is incredibly proud of her strength and resilience and what she achieved, which has given her a new perspective on her identity.

含羞草研究社淭here are so many gifts that have come out of it," said Chase. "From my own sense of self. Although I wouldn't have volunteered for it, there's a part of me that is so grateful to have been put in that situation ... to really know myself, my strength and determination, in a way that I never have before.含羞草研究社�