Alaska Air National Guard Airmen rescue stranded ATV rider near Knik Glacier

Alaska Air National Guardsmen of the 176th Wing rescued a stranded all-terrain vehicle rider Jan. 19 in the vicinity of Knik Glacier east of Palmer.

The mission opened in response to a request for assistance from the Alaska State Troopers to the Alaska Rescue Coordination Center.

At the request of and under the direction of the AKRCC, Alaska Air National Guardsmen of 210th and 212th Rescue Squadrons launched on a 210th RQS HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopter from JBER.

The HH-60 crew located the hiker and airlanded the 212th RQS pararescuemen to assess and bring the ATV rider onboard. The Pave Hawk transported the uninjured man to Palmer where he was released to Troopers.

Alaska Air National Guard Capt. Brent Kramer, AKRCC senior controller, said it’s important to carry a satellite communication device when going into the Alaska wilderness.

“Cell phone coverage is far from a given when going outdoors away from cities,” he said. “A personal locator beacon gives you two-way communication anywhere in Alaska, and it allows us to quickly find and rescue you if you get into trouble.”

For this mission, 210th RQS, 212th RQS and the AKRCC were awarded one save.