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CNN Live Sunday

Coast Guard Rescues Hikers in Alaska's Mountains

Aired July 22, 2001 - 17:25   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
STEPHEN FRAZIER, CNN ANCHOR: The U.S. Coast Guard helped to prevent a potential tragedy, not on the water, as we've told you, but high in the mountains of Alaska, where the Coast Guard has an expanded role in rescues. Reporter Kathy Kronenberger of CNN affiliate WJW TV has the story now of this high altitude rescue, and why one person in the group was a familiar face to the Coast Guard.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

KATHY KRONENBERGER, WJW CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Nearly 4,000 feet up on the side of Alaska's Mount Duffey (ph), 23 hikers are about to be rescued by the Coast Guard. The group had been in nearby Sitka, outside Juneau, to help set up a religious-based youth program. Then, 14 teenagers and nine adults went on a 23-mile hiking trip up the side of the mountain.

By Wednesday, they had run out of water. A heavy fog set in. Their food supply was low, and then, the Coast Guard says, some adults started to panic, the kids followed, and the group was too afraid to move.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: They had to melt snow by flame to get water. I don't think that they are completely in tuned to Alaska's environment. The weather here changes rather rapidly and very unpredictably.

KRONENBERGER: It's not the first time the Cost Guard had had to rescue the leader of the group, Paul Miller of Stow. This same week two years ago, Miller and 13 other hikers had to be rescued from the same area.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Once again, the same problem, lack of preparation, lack of knowledge of the area and just probably failure to use good common sense.

KRONENBERGER: Now, the group is back in Cleveland, much warmer and much wiser.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I would just like to say that I really -- I'm embarrassed. I feel bad. I -- you know, I wish I could redo it.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I think he was worried that he overextended people, and we need to be cautious in the future not to do that. UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I'm glad to be back. Great experience. Woke up in the morning, the sky is clear, the most beautiful sight you've ever seen.

KRONENBERGER: And at $25,000 a pop for both rescue missions, the Coast Guard is hoping the group has learned an important lesson.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I'm sure that if this were to happen again, which I hope it would not, that Mr. Miller and his group would probably receive a very stern lecture from the Coast Guard, telling him that three strikes and you are out.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

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