Marine OK after glacier slip

July 31, 2007

By Hannah Guillaume

Frontiersman

HATCHER PASS - A Marine who survived Iraq's deserts discovered this past weekend he could also survive Alaska's wilderness.

Sean Smith-Kearon, 23, of Fort Edward, New York, hiked to Mint Glacier where he became lost, fell and slid down Bomber Glacier. He then ate a porcupine to survive, said Kym Miller, a Hatcher Pass park ranger.

&#8220He was just way in over his head,” she said. &#8220We wish he'd have been able to read a map.”

Smith-Kearon wore warm clothing and survived because he was in top-physical condition after his recent tour in Iraq, Miller said.

Alaska State Trooper HELO-1, Alaska Mountain Rescue volunteers and Alaska Search and Rescue Dogs responded Saturday, according to trooper reports released on Sunday.

&#8220He told his cousin [Michael Zuyus] he would be back around 3 o'clock,” said Megan Peters, a trooper spokeswoman.

Zuyus, 36, of Palmer told troopers that his cousin called to say he would be five or six hours late, Peters said. At 5:42 a.m. on Saturday, Zuyus called troopers to help search.

Searchers discovered Smith-Kearon had written a message in the log book at the Bomber Hut that said he was a &#8220mis-orientated hiker” and was heading downstream, she said. He couldn't read the topographical map at the hut, and Smith-Kearon told her he didn't realize he was on a glacier when he began falling and sliding down Bomber.

The search party followed clues of his passing and discovered Smith-Kearon at 4 p.m. on Bartholf Creek a mile from the Kashwitna River Confluence, Miller said. He would have had to hike 32 more miles to reach the Parks Highway near Talkeetna had he not been found.

&#8220He was in terrible country - big, high bushes over his head,” she said. &#8220He did take really good care of himself out there - in that he stayed alive.”

Smith-Kearon reported no injuries, according to trooper reports. Miller said he doesn't have to pay for the helicopter-search crew.

Hikers that head off trails should know how to read topographical maps, navigate glaciers and have experience in the terrain they go for, Miller said. &#8220We're just really to glad we found him in good shape.”

Contact Hannah Guillaume at 352-2284 or hannahguillaume@yahoo.com.