Unprepared hikers rescued from snowy Maple Pass

WENATCHEE - On Monday, June 10, the Chelan County Sheriff's Office successfully rescued two stranded hikers in the Maple Pass area near Rainy Pass on Highway 20. The rescue operation was initiated after Rivercom Dispatch received a distress text message from the hikers at approximately 6:11 p.m.

According to Sheriff Mike Morrison, the two hikers were unable to move due to snow and were unprepared for the conditions they encountered. With daylight fading, the decision was made to deploy the Chelan County Helicopter and coordinate with Okanogan County Mountain Rescue.

The helicopter crew located the stranded hikers from the air and inserted two mountain rescue team members onto the snow field above the hikers' location. The rescue team quickly reached the subjects and guided them to the waiting helicopter. The hikers, though cold and frightened, were uninjured. They were flown to the parking lot and met by Rick Balam of Okanogan County Search and Rescue. Due to the deteriorating light conditions, the two mountain rescue personnel had to hike out of the area.

Sheriff Morrison reminds outdoor enthusiasts that there is still a significant amount of snow present in higher elevations. He urges hikers to be prepared with the "10 Essentials" and to turn back when trail conditions become hazardous.

The identities of the rescued hikers have not been released, and no further details are available at this time.