Alaska Air Guard Rescues Injured Hiker Near Eklutna Lake

Members of the Alaska Army National Guard's 207th Aviation Regiment conduct hoist training on Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson Feb. 20, 2020.

Download

Details

200220-Z-A3507-0001

Members of the Alaska Army National Guard's 207th Aviation Regiment conduct hoist training on Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson Feb. 20, 2020.

JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska - Alaska Air National Guardsmen of the 176th Wing rescued an injured hiker Aug. 31 near Eklutna Lake, about 30 miles northeast of Anchorage.

Alaska State Troopers requested support after the hiker messaged for help using a satellite communication device.

At the request of the Alaska Rescue Coordination Center, the 176th Wing launched a 210th Rescue Squadron HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopter with 212th Rescue Squadron pararescuemen onboard.

The HH-60 crew located the hiker in a ravine and inserted the pararescuemen, who made contact with him before hoisting him into the Pave Hawk.

The helicopter transported the injured hiker to Providence Alaska Medical Center and released him to medical personnel there.

Alaska Air National Guard Senior Master Sgt. Jeffrey Hamilton, AKRCC superintendent, said the hiker’s use of a satellite communication device was key to a timely rescue.

“This rescue proved once again the utility of a two-way satellite communication device when going into the Alaska wilderness where there is no standard cell service,” he said.

For the mission, the 210th RQS, 212th RQS and the AKRCC received credit for one save.

Alaska Air National Guard

Arctic Guardians

Related Articles

COAST GUARD AIR STATION KODIAK, Alaska -- Alaska Air National Guard Maj. Tyler Seibold, 210th Rescue Squadron HH-60G Pave Hawk pilot, carries out preflight checks Jan. 12, 2023, during joint training with the Coast Guard's Maritime Security Response Team West. The HH-60 is the Defense Department's only dedicated rotary-wing combat search and rescue platform. (Alaska Air National Guard photo by David Bedard)

Alaska Air National Guard Rescues Three After Cessna Crash

By David Bedard, | Aug. 24, 2026

JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska — Alaska Air National Guardsmen of the 176th Wing rescued three victims of a Cessna 180 crash Aug. 18 near Bettles, about 200 miles northwest of Fairbanks.The Alaska Rescue Coordination...

A U.S. Air Force HH-60W Jolly Green II assigned to the 210th Rescue Squadron, 176th Wing, Alaska Air National Guard, flies over Southcentral Alaska during the final training mission and flight of the Alaska Air National Guard’s HH-60G Pave Hawks July 8. Since 1990, the 176th Wing’s rescue squadrons used Pave Hawks for personnel recovery operations and to provide lifesaving support during combat and civil search and rescue missions around the world. The Alaska Air National Guard’s HH-60G Pave Hawks have since been replaced by the HH-60W Jolly Green II. Photo by Alejandro Peña.

Alaska Air Guard Rescues Injured Hiker From Hatcher Pass

By Alaska National Guard Public Affairs | Aug. 20, 2026

JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska — At the request of the Alaska State Troopers, Alaska Air National Guardsmen of the 176th Wing rescued an injured hiker from steep terrain in the Hatcher Pass area, approximately 40...

An Alaska Air National Guard combat rescue officer (CRO) assigned to the 212th Rescue Squadron descends over Malemute Drop Zone during a capabilities exercise at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska, June 25, 2024. CROs, pararescuemen, and search, evasion, resistance, and escape specialists of the 212th RQS — known collectively as Guardian Angels — are experts in personnel recovery operations and are trained to infiltrate behind enemy lines to extract isolated U.S. and allied personnel.

Alaska Air Guard Conducts Three Rescue Missions in 24 Hours

By Alejandro Pena, | Sept. 18, 2025

JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska — Alaska Air National Guard members from the 176th Wing rescued five individuals involved in three incidents Sept. 15 that spanned more than 550 miles across Alaska.The Alaska Rescue...