Avalanche traps skiiers in Hatcher Pass for a time Saturday; two snowmachiners stranded Monday

HATCHER PASS — Local search and rescue groups have had a busy couple days with stranded snowmachiners and reports regarding avalanches at Hatcher Pass.

Ken Barkley, Mat-Su assistant director of emergency services, said the three separate incidents were reported in as many days. The first came on Feb. 25 at 4068 Peak in Hatcher Pass. According to posts on the Hatcher Pass Avalanche Center website, evidence of manmade avalanches were pronounced above 3,000 feet.

Around 6:25 p.m. observers reported seeing skiers around the 3,200-foot mark of the peak heading out of a recent avalanche. The skiers reportedly returned to tour the bed surface. Barkley said a rescue team out of Anchorage was placed on standby but not called out and the skiers were able to exit the area without assistance. With the avalanche danger levels considerable anywhere above 2,500 feet, Barkley stressed the importance of being aware of your surroundings anywhere in the Valley's higher terrain locations.

Two Wasilla men were rescued with assistance of Alaska State Wildlife Troopers (AWT) Monday morning after their snowmachines broke down on Baldy Mountain. Andrey Zvezdun, 20 and his 19-year old brother Vladimir called 911 Sunday night around 8:30 p.m. to report they were stranded on the mountain. They told dispatchers they were dressed for the weather, had limited survival gear and were starting to walk toward Schrock Road.

The pair checked in several times throughout the night and were making progress toward Schrock. They called 911 again shortly after 6:15 a.m. to report they were still unsure of their location and that their phone battery was dying. AST was waiting at Schrock Road and when the brothers failed to show up at 8 a.m., search and rescue responded.

AWT began the search on snowmachines but were unable to locate the pair. AST Helo 4 was launched around 3:40 p.m. and located the brothers within moments of arriving at the search area. The chopper was unable to land but food and water were dropped. Family searchers arrived shortly after that and were vectored to the pair's location by troopers. The brothers were transported to the road and were reportedly uninjured.

Another snowmachiner was rescued off Nancy Lake around 10 p.m. Monday night. Barkley said Willow Fire and Rescue located 59-year old Jessie Siler of Willow after he called 911 and informed them his machine had struck a pipe. Barkley said rescue personnel used a thermal imaging camera and located Siler. He was treated at the scene for minor injuries and transported to Mat-Su Regional Medical Center for treatment of mild hypothermia, Barkley said.