Hikers trapped atop Knik Glacier

KNIK GLACIER — Air National Guardsmen and U.S. Air Men were working Thursday to rescue three hikers stranded atop the Knik Glacier since at least Tuesday.

A helicopter deposited the hikers on the glacier April 3, but they missed a scheduled pick-up Sunday because of weather conditions, according to Alaska Rescue Coordination Center deputy director Lt. Col. John Morse.

The hikers were forced to shelter in a cave after strong winds damaged their tent, and the hikers eventually contacted a friend 11 p.m., Tuesday using a DeLorme inReach device. The friend relayed the information to Alaska State Troopers, who contacted the Rescue Coordination Center, according to Morse.

Members of the 210th, 211th, and 212th Rescue Squadrons have tried at least twice to reach the stranded hikers, but were forced to turn back because of darkness and low cloud ceilings.

“Weather conditions have precluded our ability to reach the climbers,” Morse said in a press release.

Members of the 144th Airlift Squadron attempted to resupply the hikers using a C-130 and parachute-rigged bundles of food, fuel, and shelter, but none of the bundles landed where the hikers could reach, Morse said.

Pilots are “typically not seeing the ground, flying in instrument conditions, surrounded by 13,000-foot peaks, attempting to drop supplies to the climbers,” Morse added. “This is a pretty complicated mission.”

Officials anticipated a brief clearing late Thursday afternoon, and were evaluating both another resupply attempt and the possibility of rescue, according to guard spokeswoman Kalei Rupp.

UPDATE: Pararescumen with the National Guard rescued the hikers 7 a.m. Friday after weather improved, according to a press release. The hikers reported minor frostbite. Rescuers transported them to an Anchorage-area hospital for treatment.