Denali National Park and Preserve News Release

Read more about this story and Denali National Park at www.nps.gov

June 18, 2008 –9:00 p.m.

For Immediate Release

Contact: Kris Fister (907) 683-9583

Lost Backpackers in Denali Reunited with Families

Abby Flantz and Erica Nelson were grinning from ear to ear as they

disembarked the helicopter at the Denali Park airstrip at 4: 55 p.m. today

and walked into the waiting arms of their anxious families. They were

spotted this afternoon by the park’s plane, in an area north of the park

boundary, about 15 miles north of where they began their hike and eight

miles west of the Parks Highway.  After the reunion they were assessed by

park medics for any medical issues, and then interviewed by search managers

to get a thorough understanding of where they had gone, and what they had

done during their six day ordeal.

Today’s remarkable chain of events began when Erica Nelson called her

mother’s cell phone at approximately 9:15 a.m.,  while the Nelson and

Flantz family members were being briefed on today’s planned search

activities. She said that she and Abby were not hurt and had just at that

time been able to obtain a cell signal. Search managers attempted to get

details of their possible location from them over the phone, using nearby

landmarks. They also asked the young women to move to an open area, remain

at that location, make themselves highly visible, and signal any

helicopters that flew overhead.

Two helicopters were immediately dispatched to the area where the two women

were believed to be, in order to locate them and pick them up. After an

hour of aerial searching one more helicopter and the park’s fixed-wing

aircraft was also dispatched to search the area as the two women could not

be found. As more time elapsed ground searchers and two dog teams were

added to the search, which was taking place on the eastern edge of the

original search zone, approximately five miles west of the Parks Highway

and north of Mount Healy.

At 3:30 p.m. Erica called her mother’s cell phone again. At that time she

was told to use the text message feature to conserve battery strength.

Between 3:30 p.m. – 4:15 p.m. she provided information on the features that

they could see from their location, and if and where they could see or hear

aircraft.  During this time cell service provider ACS was providing the

park’s communication center with information to pinpoint possible search

locations using bearings and distance from cell sites. This information

provided a more specific site for searchers to investigate. At 4:22 p.m.

the park fixed-wing aircraft spotted the pair. They were quickly picked up

by an incident helicopter and brought to the park’s airstrip.

Abby and Erica are relaxing tonight with their families. They all wish to

have more time to consider requests for interviews. Additional information

will be provided as it becomes available.

The search teams will be going through a debriefing and demobilization

process tonight and tomorrow.

-NPS-

Kris Fister

Public Affairs Officer

Denali National Park and Preserve

P.O. Box 9

Denali Park, AK 99755

(907) 683-9583

Kris_Fister@nps.gov