Helicopter called to rescue stranded men

PALMER - A pair of stranded snowmachiners were recovered in good health after a brief search Thursday.

Alaska State Troopers received a report at 3:55 p.m., that two people had become stuck in deep snow while snowmachining on a trail off Murphy Road near Palmer and were unable to hike out, according to an AST report of the incident.

Troopers located the men - identified as Lawrence Weiss Jr., 24, of Wasilla and Thomas Rush, 29, of Oregon - by snowmachine, but were unable to provide transportation to the road due to the depth of snow, the report says. AST's Helo-1 helicopter then responded and picked up the men at about 6:55 p.m.

Both men were treated my medics at the scene, but were reportedly in good health.