News Release

Injured Hiker Extracted from Kenai Fjords National Park via Helicopter

Date: August 9, 2022
Contact: Laura Sturtz

On Sunday, August 8, at approximately 6 pm, the Alaska State Troopers (AST) received a 9-1-1 call reporting a hiker who had sustained a lower leg injury approximately two miles up the Harding Icefield Trail in Kenai Fjords National Park.

Park rangers responded to the incident location while the Alaska State Troopers surveyed the area for a landing zone and requested helicopter assistance. Bear Creek Fire Department provided further medical care and packaged the patient into a litter for transport. All responding agencies then carried the patient up the trail approximately a quarter mile to the helicopter landing zone.

Despite deteriorating weather conditions and impending loss of daylight, Guardian Flight arrived on location and successfully evacuated the injured hiker with non-life-threatening injuries at approximately 10 pm.

Park rangers remind visitors that the Harding Icefield Trail is a strenuous mountain route that gains approximately 1000 feet of elevation per mile. It is crucially important that all hikers carefully consider the challenges and hazards inherent to this route and choose less exposed trails during periods of inclement weather. Park rangers also recommend that hikers plan ahead and prepare for changing conditions by brining warm clothes, rain gear, sturdy footwear, sunglasses, sunscreen, and at least two liters of water per person.

Kenai Fjords National Park staff sincerely appreciate the ongoing partnership with the Alaska State Troopers, Bear Creek Fire Department, Soldotna Dispatch, and the National Park Service Alaska Regional Communications Center that supports critical missions.