A Coast Guard MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crew from Air Station Kodiak forward deployed to Forward Operating Location (FOL) Cordova assisted the Alaska State Troopers on July 5 with the rescue of two stranded hikers and their dog from steep terrain at Gold Creek near Valdez.
The Jayhawk crew hoisted the two hikers and their dog and safely transported them to Valdez Airport to awaiting emergency medical service (EMS). Neither hiker reported medical concerns.
Watchstanders at the 17th Coast Guard District command center received a request for agency assistance at approximately 1 p.m. from the Alaska State Troopers that two hikers became stranded on steep terrain at Gold Creek.
“This case highlights the close coordination and communication with the Alaska State Troopers and the solid partnership our two agencies share,” said CWO Joseph Ayd, command duty officer for the 17th District. “Crews at the FOL in Cordova demonstrate the multi-mission capability of rescuing not only fishermen in Prince William Sound but also those folks who find themselves in trouble in Alaska’s outdoors.”
FOL Cordova consists of a Kodiak-based MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter with supporting air, ground and communications crews. The FOL increases the Coast Guard’s readiness and allows for faster responses to emergencies in the Gulf of Alaska and Prince William Sound.
Weather on scene was reported as 3.5-mile-per-hour winds with 10 miles visibility.
