By Sentinel Staff
A Coast Guard Air Station Sitka helicopter on Sunday afternoon picked up a 25-year-old woman after she injured her ankle on the Cross Mountain trail.
Sitka Fire Department received a cell phone call at 4:41 p.m., reporting the woman had possibly broken her ankle on the way down the mountain with a friend and two dogs, and was unable to walk out on her own.
Fire Chief Dave Miller said a search and rescue team was dispatched, but in the end the Coast Guard was called. Miller said it would’ve taken three to four hours for the team of four SAR volunteers to reach the group on the trail; and, given the lateness of the hour, and the fact darkness was setting in, the entire group would’ve had to spend the night and hike out today.
The helicopter took off at 6:30 p.m., flew in to the 2,200-foot elevation, hoisted the women and the two dogs, and flew them back to the Air Station, where the group was met by an ambulance at 7:15 p.m., the Coast Guard said.
