News Release

Rescue successful for sheep hunter in Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve

Date: August 31, 2020
Contact: Jan Maslen, 9078227206

Copper Center, AK — A rescue was initiated on Saturday, August 29th, for a hunter who slid down a slope and became stranded on a scree cliff. The 47-year old hunter from Wasilla, Alaska descended a slope near the confluence of the Nabesna River and Totschunda Creek in Wrangell-St. Elias National Park & Preserve in attempt to recover a sheep that he harvested. He was uninjured and was able to use an DeLorme inReach device to send an emergency message and report his coordinates to the International Emergency Response Coordination Center (IERCC).

The National Park Service was notified and requested assistance from the Alaska Rescue Coordination Center (AKRCC) at Joint Base Elmendorf Richardson (JBER). AKRCC dispatched an Army helicopter from Ft. Wainwright that arrived on scene at approximately 9:00 PM. An attempt to hoist the hunter from the slope was unsuccessful.

It was determined that pararescuemen (PJs) from the 212th Rescue Squadron would be needed to extract the hunter from the slope. A HH-60G Pave Hawk from the 210th Rescue Squadron was dispatched from JBER and successfully extracted the hunter at approximately 6:45 AM on Sunday, August 30th. The hunter was transported to the NPS Ranger Station at Slana where he was united with his family.

The harvested sheep was salvaged and surrendered to the Alaska Wildlife Troopers.
This rescue was a coordinated effort between the International Emergency Response Coordination Center, Alaska Wildlife Troopers, Alaska Air National Guard and the National Park Service.