5:10pm Update:
The Rescue Coordination Center wrote in a release:
A ground team of pararescuemen have been inserted via helicopter onto the glacier, north of the distressed individuals’ location. They are currently battling blowing snow and high winds as they traverse the terrain to reach individuals. Aircrews are still unable to reach their location due to weather conditions.
JJ “Jim” Bristow has been communicating with Hanna via the inReach satellite phone the pair has.
Bristow explained via a recent Facebook post that the rescue team’s efforts to reach the pair may take up to 10 to 18 hours.
The Anchorage Rescue Center has confirmed the team is in on the ground skiing up Skilak glacier.
Staff Sgt. Edward Eagerton with the Alaska Air National Guard says the team is battling blowing snow and winds up to 30 knots. Those conditions are keeping the helicopter grounded after it inserted the ground team.
4:40pm Update:
The National Weather Service is reporting that there may be some breaks in the inclement weather that has been impacting rescue efforts later this evening.
Meteorologist Joe Wegman in Anchorage says the precipitation over the Harding Icefields looks like it is dissipating this evening.
Wegman: “Looking on satellite, you see some breaks in the clouds heading that way so maybe they might have a few hours, over the next few hours to get some searching in.”
Wegman says those potential openings are followed by another front approaching that area…
Wegman: “Maybe some steadier precipitation, especially at the higher elevations but is not by any means a strong front by any kind. But it may produce some precipitation, rain at lower elevations mixed with snow at the higher elevations.”
He says looking at tomorrow’s forecast, the front appears to widen out and dissipates throughout the afternoon.
3:00pm Update:
Just after 12:30 pm today, a helicopter from the inter-agency search and rescue efforts to find Neyman and Hanna was able to land at the base of Bear Glacier.
Public Affairs Specialist Staff Sergeant Edward Eagerton with the Alaska Air National Guard says weather has kept the aircraft crew at the base…
Sgt. Eagerton: “They’ve not been able to get up to the stranded individuals’ location, they’re at about 4,300 feet in elevation. Our guys have been able to get to the base of Bear Glacier but they’re waiting for the weather to clear or lift enough to be able to safely navigate up to their location.”
He says the combination of rough terrain and low visibility make a ground rescue dangerous…
Sgt. Eagerton: “I know that the State Troopers said that the Alaska Mountain Rescue Group were going to attempt to go in yesterday and they were going to ski in but determined that it would have taken them at least three days, due to terrain and weather, to get to the individuals’s location. So when you have mountain rescue personnel saying it’s going to take them three days, that’s obviously saying that the situation there is not good as far as weather and terrain goes.”
Sgt. Eagerton says he has not heard a recent update on how Neyman and Hanna are doing.
12:40pm Update:
The search for 36-year-old Jennifer Neyman and 45-year-old Christopher Hanna of Soldotna continues as rescue efforts continue to be impacted by inclement weather near Bear Glacier in the Harding Icefields.
Staff Sergeant Edward Eagerton with the Rescue Coordination Center released this at 12:30 pm Monday:
On Apr. 9, the Alaska State Troopers contacted the Alaska Rescue Coordination Center to inform them that two individuals were in need of rescue on the Harding Ice Fields. Initially, the Alaska State Troopers were planning on conducting the rescue mission, but due to weather and terrain, were unable to do so. The two distressed individuals were communicating via a DeLorme InReach beacon, and stated that their tent had failed, they were running low on supplies, and had constructed a makeshift shelter. The coordinates provided by the individuals put them on the Bear Glacier at approximately 4,300 feet in elevation.
This morning, the Alaska Air National Guard launched an HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopter from the 210th Rescue Squadron and an HC-130 King aircraft from the 211th Rescue Squadron out of JBER. Additionally, four rescue personnel from the 212th Rescue Squadron are onboard the Pave Hawk helicopter.
The aircraft have been flying over the Harding Ice Field area in an attempt to find a way to the location of the individuals, but have been unsuccessful so far due to weather conditions, which includes blowing snow and low cloud ceilings.
*For Monday mornings coverage of the search efforts for the pair, click here.*
