https://www.adn.com/alaska-new...n-knik-river-valley/



Sheep hunter rescued after getting stuck on steep terrain in Knik River Valley

By Anchorage Daily News
Updated: 11 hours ago
Published: 15 hours ago

An Alaska Army National Guard helicopter crew rescued a hunter Wednesday after he was stranded on unstable, steep terrain at a high elevation in the Knik River Valley near Cottonwood Creek, the Guard said in a statement.

A man hunting sheep became stranded on a 3-foot-by-3-foot ledge on a 40- to 50-degree slope, and he was unable to move up or down the terrain, the Guard said. He was stuck in snow, Alaska State Troopers said in an online report.

The hunter activated an SOS using an inReach satellite communication device, according to the Guard. Troopers said they were notified of the alert at 1:25 p.m.

Troopers then requested assistance from the Alaska Rescue Coordination Center on Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson.

A UH-60L Black Hawk medevac helicopter left JBER with a rescue crew at around 3:30 p.m., and was directed to the man’s location by rescue controllers with the Alaska Air National Guard, according to the Guard.

The hunter was at an elevation of 5,500 feet when he was hoisted up by the medevac aircrew, the Guard said.

In the statement, Staff Sgt. and flight paramedic Damion Minchaca said the helicopter made two passes over the location before spotting the hunter. The crew at first did not see him because of his camouflaged hunting gear.


“He used quick thinking, turning his camouflage jacket inside out to signal us down with the inside fleece’s bright orange color showing,” said Minchaca, with Detachment 2, G Company, 2nd Battalion, 211th Aviation Regiment.

The ledge was so small that there wasn’t enough room for both him and the hunter to stand, Minchaca said.

The hunter was outfitted with an aviation rescue vest and hoisted into the helicopter, and they flew to the Palmer airport, according to the Guard.

The man declined medical treatment or evaluation, troopers said.

I'll bet five dollars and a bag of cookies, they did not demand he leave 100% of his hunting equipment on the mountain. And likely AST will not confiscate his gear.

quote:

Originally posted by Alaskan Sourdough:
I'll bet five dollars and a bag of cookies, they did not demand he leave 100% of his hunting equipment on the mountain. And likely AST will not confiscate his gear.

That would seem stupid to me.i see no reason for punative action because the hunter made a mistake.

quote:

Originally posted by Scott King:

quote:

Originally posted by Alaskan Sourdough:
I'll bet five dollars and a bag of cookies, they did not demand he leave 100% of his hunting equipment on the mountain. And likely AST will not confiscate his gear.

That would seem stupid to me.i see no reason for punative action because the hunter made a mistake.

I don't write the game regulations. "NOT" saying he did......but what if he intentionally but himself there.

Gives those PJ's something to do and they are damn good at it.

quote:

Originally posted by HAY-MAN:
Gives those PJ's something to do and they are damn good at it .

Absolutely!!

Love the JBER folks! My daughter has many friends at JBER, not too far down and across the freeway from her home in Eagle River.

Us Sheep Hunters have a tendency to break Mountaineering rules like descending "blind" into terrain we've never ascended. One can get "Cliffed Out". I'd bet that's what happened. Glad to hear he lived to tell the tale and thanks to the JBER folks as well. It just as well could have been me or any other Sheep or Goat Hunters around here. Or, we could be talking about a dead Sheep Hunter...