A U.S. Coast Guard helicopter and a ground team were dispatched after Sitka rescuers received a report Thursday night of an unprepared Pennsylvania man with "medical issues" who couldn't get into a trail shelter because of deep snow.
Pennsylvania resident Travis Eby, 33, had planned to spend the night at the shelter at the Gavin Hill trail, Alaska State Troopers said in a press statement. But he wasn't adequately prepared.
Sitka Mountain Rescue launched a ground team along the trail, and the Coast Guard launched the helicopter from Air Station Sitka to help.
The ground team reached Evy about 2:30 a.m Friday, dug out the shelter and spent the night inside. They gave Eby food and water, hiking out with him in the morning.