Two skaters were rescued by ice climbers this week at Portage Lake, a frozen glacial lake about an hour south of Anchorage in Alaska. The area drew in hundreds of recreational visitors over the weekend due to a recent spate of cold and clear weather.
Just after 4 p.m. on Monday, Alaska State Troopers received notification that two people had become stranded when "a a piece of glacier calved onto the lake," a dispatch report states. Rescue crews from the U.S. Forest Service and Girdwood Fire and Rescue were dispatched to the scene, as well as helicopters from Alaska Army Guard and state troopers.
Girdwood Fire and Rescue chief Michelle Weston told the Anchorage Daily News that the skaters had managed to scramble onto a steep, rocky area to get off the unstable ice, but then became trapped there. Because the area is a cellphone dead zone, the pair used a two-way communication device to signal for help.
But in the half hour it took for ground crews and the 90 minutes for helicopters to arrive, the skaters had already been helped to safety. They were able to meet Girdwood responders on the lake by foot, and no injuries were reported. Trooper spokesperson Tess Williams noted that it was the first time in recent years that a helicopter has been deployed for a backcountry ice skating rescue.
Witness Lauren Jobe said that she had been skating on the ice when she heard strange sounds coming from the glacier and started filming. "I thought 'maybe this is just the sound a glacier makes,'" she told reporters on Monday. “I wanted to show my family and friends. I had half a thought that it would be cool if a piece fell off, thinking that it would be one-twentieth of what actually fell off."
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Girdwood Fire and Rescue said in a statement that though the group was well prepared, it underscores the importance to practice safety while out on the lake, such as carrying extra snacks, warm clothes, a method of communication, and to always prepare for the unexpected.
Wild ice skating has taken off in Southcentral Alaska in recent years, with Portage Lake becoming one of the most popular destinations. Facebook groups have fueled the hobby, where thousands of users exchange photos, videos, and advice on where to find the best spots.
"Beautiful ice on Portage Lake is naturally enticing," said Chugach National Forest spokesperson Brandon Raile. "Visitors need to remember that at least four inches of clear, hard, new ice is needed to support a person." Raile added that since ice does not freeze evenly, it's important to keep an eye out for cracks, seeping water, or open water, and to keep "a safe distance between you and the glacier."
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