Denali National Park and Preserve News Release

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

June 17, 2008 – 10:00 p.m.

For Immediate Release

Contact: Kris Fister (907) 683-9583

More Searchers Arriving to Assist with Search for Missing Backpackers

Park Medical Response Needs Temporarily Divert Incident Resources

Today’s combined efforts of eleven ground teams and four aircraft failed to

yield any new clues on the location of missing backpackers Abby Flantz and

Erica Nelson. The teams were tasked with more thoroughly investigating

specific segments within the search area, those sections that search

managers feel are the most likely locations of the two hikers. More than 60

people were involved in today’s search effort, including more than 40 air

and ground searchers and the overhead personnel who provide support and

assistance to them.

Five new teams will be utilized in Wednesday’s efforts, in addition to the

teams who have been involved in the previous days’ search.  These resources

include a team from the Anchorage based Alaska Mountain Rescue Group, and

search and rescue teams from Grand Teton, Mount Rainier, Sequoia-Kings

Canyon, and Yosemite National Parks. Two fresh dog teams from the Alaska

Search and Rescue Dog organization in Anchorage will replace the PAWS teams

from Fairbanks in tomorrow’s search efforts.

With the influx of fresh new personnel, searcher numbers will swell to

approximately 60 people. The additional staffing will allow search managers

to increase the size of the teams in high priority segments, which will

allow them to search more thoroughly. Searchers will be placed on the

ground for the first time in some higher elevations of the search area,

sections that have previously only been searched by air. These segments

have steep, rocky and snow-covered sections. There are a total of 105

people assigned to Wednesday’s search activities.

The air search will continue with up to five helicopters and the park’s

fixed-wing aircraft. The high-altitude Lama is available, but will be

needed for a medical evacuation from the 14,200 foot camp on Mount McKinley

as soon as weather conditions allow. A helicopter from the Alaska Fire

Service Tanana Zone will be added to the three that were utilized in

Tuesday’s operations.

The National Park Service search managers would like to speak with anyone

who was hiking in the Savage River drainage between Thursday, June 12 and

Sunday, June 15.  Anyone who may have information to share is asked to call

(907) 683-9648.

                                   -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