JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska – Alaska Air National Guardsmen of the 176th Wing rescued two hikers in distress Jan. 30 at Hatcher Pass on the Gold Mint Trail.
The hikers notified Alaska State Troopers using a satellite communication device, and the AST asked for assistance from the Alaska Rescue Coordination Center.
At the request of and under the direction of the AKRCC, Alaska Air National Guardsmen of the 210th and 212th Rescue Squadrons launched on a 210th RQS HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopter from Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson.
The HH-60 crew located the hikers on uneven terrain, requiring the 212th RQS pararescuemen to use the Pave Hawk’s hoist to contact the hikers and transport them into the helicopter. The HH-60 took the uninjured men to Providence Alaska Medical Center.
Alaska Air National Guard Capt. Brent Kramer, AKRCC senior controller, said the hikers’ use of a satellite communication device expedited the rescue.
“In the Alaska wilderness, having satellite communication is huge,” he said. “We knew what we were getting into, and we were able to quickly assign the appropriate asset.”
The 210th RQS, 212th RQS and the AKRCC were awarded two saves for this mission.