On Sunday, October 19th, just before 11am, deputies with the Kittitas County Sheriff’s Office in Washington state responded to a call from two hikers who reported having lost their way in unexpected snow in the Alpine Lakes Wilderness.
The pair informed the officers over text-to-911 that they were lost, wet, and cold, with no shelter but a blue plastic tarp. They were somewhere near Peggy’s Pond Trail, unable to make their way off the snowy mountainside where they were located.
Deputies and volunteers with Kittitas County Search & Rescue, Seattle Mountain Rescue, and King County Search and Rescue responded. They geared up and hiked 5 miles through the challenging conditions to find the hikers, wet and cold but fortunately uninjured. The two were helped off the slope and out of the wilderness.
Hikers and recreators are reminded that conditions can quickly change in the mountains, especially as fall weather continues to take hold in Washington. If you’re planning on heading into the mountains, make sure you always have the 10 Essentials and know how to stay warm and dry if the trip takes longer than anticipated.
