All of Harbor Mountain Road is now open to pedestrians but remains closed to vehicle traffic while the crash of a U.S. Coast Guard helicopter Monday is investigated, the U.S. Forest Service said today.
On Thursday the Forest Service said an area of land at the top of Harbor Mountain, around the site of the crash, will be closed "for the protection of sensitive property." On Tuesday all of Harbor Mountain Road, Harbor Mountain Trail and Gavan Hill Trail had been closed along with thousands of surrounding acres as the Coast Guard started its investigation.
No timeline has been set for removal of the helicopter wreckage from Harbor Mountain, a Coast Guard spokesperson said today. Once the site is cleared by investigators, the Coast Guard will execute a salvage plan for the helicopter, the spokesperson said.
Greg Dunn, acting Forest Service ranger for Sitka, sent an updated map today showing that Harbor Mountain Road is closed to vehicles while pedestrians are allowed on the road and the entire Harbor Mountain Trail and Gavan Hill Trail.
People are prohibited from entering or being in the closure area, which is located due west of the upper reaches of Harbor Mountain Road, near the picnic area and overlook trails there. The Forest Service stated that violation of the order is punishable as a class B misdemeanor by a fine of not more than $5,000 for individuals and $10,000 for organizations, or by imprisonment for not more than six months, or both.
Four Coast Guard crew members aboard the helicopter sustained non-serious injuries, the Coast Guard said Monday.
