A personal locator beacon helped rescuers find an Anchorage man buried in an avalanche in Alaska's backcountry Saturday near Denali National Park, though he required a medevac to Anchorage for serious injuries, Alaska State Troopers reported.
According to an online dispatch posted Sunday, troopers received a notice of an emergency locator beacon activated shortly before 2 p.m. Saturday about two miles from Milepost 191 of the Parks Highway, south of Cantwell.
Troopers said 33-year-old Russell Miller had reportedly been buried while snowmachining with others in the area of Squaw Creek and the Chulitna River.
"Others who witnessed the incident immediately started rescue efforts," the dispatch said. "They were able to locate (Miller) using probes and a personal locator beacon and were able to extract him from the snow."
Alaska Wildlife Troopers and medics from Cantwell arrived at the scene, where Miller was already being given "lifesaving medical treatment" by other rescuers.
A LifeMed helicopter was dispatched to the scene and took Miller back to Anchorage for treatment of "serious injuries," troopers wrote.