VALDEZ, ALASKA. (August 6, 2024) – At 7:27 PM on Saturday, August 3, Valdez
Dispatch was notified of an overdue hiker in Thompson Pass who was hiking the 1899
Pack Trail. Valdez Fire Department Backcountry Search and Rescue (VFD BCSR)
responded to milepost 19 on the Richardson Highway and established a command post.
Initial efforts to locate the hiker began on foot. Due to the challenging conditions of the
trail, The BCSR Team requested aerial support and contacted Vertical Solutions
Helicopters to assist with extracting the hiker. They were able to locate the hiker, get
them onboard, and transport them to Valdez Airport. The hiker refused on-site medical
care and transport to Providence Valdez Medical Center.