The Haines Search And Rescue team was called to search for an overdue hiker on Monday. The hiker was safe and sound.
A 31-year-old man from the Czech Republic set out to climb Mount Ripinski alone, intending to paraglide on his way down. But he encountered deeper snow than expected, and was slowed down significantly as his feet repeatedly sank into the snow.
Around 6pm Monday, his friends worried that he was late and contacted dispatch at the Haines Police Department.
An emergency call was sent out to The Haines Search And Rescue company.
Fire Chief Brian Clay describes their response.
Clay: “We did a hasty search on all the Ripinski trails, he was not there, one firefighter went out the highway, another group went out to ten miles to see if he’d blown that way, the firefighters that went out by the airport spotted him paragliding off the mountain.”
Once the man was spotted, the search was called off. It had lasted less than an hour, and about 15 volunteers participated. They watched as the man leisurely glided down the mountain. He landed behind the library.
Clay says the man did not have an American Sim card in his cell phone, and had not been able to contact his friends to tell them he would be late.
