Three hikers stranded on a cliff in Eagle River Valley on Wednesday night were found uninjured and rescued, according to the Alaska National Guard.
The trio were hiking off trail about 1 3/4 miles into the valley east of the Eagle River Nature Center and were about 2,500 feet up a mountainside. One hiker had fallen and became separated from the others, the Alaska National Guard said in a statement.
“They had basically put themselves onto a cliff in which they could not get out of,” said Sgt. Evan Budd, superintendent of the Alaska Rescue Coordination Center. “The third person had fallen off the cliff."
The hikers used an InReach two-way emergency communication device to reach out for help, according to the Alaska National Guard. The call was picked up by Alaska State Troopers, who then contacted the Alaska Rescue Coordination Center at about 9:30 p.m. to assist.
The Alaska Air National Guard’s 210th and 212th Rescue Squadrons responded, flying out with three pararescuemen in an HH-60 Pave Hawk helicopter to the coordinates they received for the hikers, the Guard said.
The pararescuemen were hoisted down to help the two hikers on the cliff, and all were then hoisted out, said the pilot, Lt. Col. Jeremy Groat, according to the Guard.
They continued to search for the third hiker, who they believed could have been injured. While searching near the nature center, they spotted someone wearing clothes and a backpack that matched a description of the third hiker, the Guard said.
The helicopter landed, confirmed it was the hiker and that they weren’t injured, and took all three to Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, the Guard said. Because rescued individuals must be released to medical professionals or law enforcement, the hikers were then released to the Anchorage Police Department, according to the Guard.
“There is something to be said here about hikers pursuing activities within their abilities and knowing the terrain of where they’re going,” said Budd, with the Alaska Rescue Coordination Center. “Basically staying safe and not putting yourself in unsafe situations.”
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