Rescuers dig through 4 feet of snow to find pair stranded on Alaska glacier

ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) —Rescuers had to dig through four feet of snow Tuesday to reach two skiers stranded on an Alaska glacier for four days.


But the experienced outdoor enthusiasts were in good condition after braving fierce winds and snow by digging a snow cave for shelter.

A break in the weather Tuesday allowed an Alaska Air National Guard helicopter to land on Bear Glacier, about 70 miles south of Anchorage, to reach Jennifer Neyman and Christopher Hanna.

Rescuers aboard assessed the health of Neyman and Hanna before they were flown to Central Peninsula Hospital in Soldotna.

Hospital spokeswoman Camile Sorenson says Hanna felt so good that he didn't check in. Neyman was being evaluated.

Guard Lt. Matt Calabro, the director of operations for the helicopter rescue squadron, says the rescue team had to go through deep snow to get to the survivors in their snow cave.