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Two 19-year-old men trapped on the side of a mountain in Oregon were rescued by the United States Coast Guard after their ‘SOS’ signal for help was spotted written in the snow.
The teens had embarked on a winter camping trip near Swastika Mountain in Umpqua National Forest on Christmas Day, and did not return as expected on Dec. 29, officials told the Oregonian. The hikers were reported to authorities as missing on New Year’s Eve.
With heavy snow in the area, a U.S. Coast Guard helicopter was deployed to assist the Lane County Sheriff’s Department to find them.
Crews were able to locate the two after identifying the “SOS” distress signal they had written in the snow. Video released by the Coast Guard shows crew members make their descent from the chopper once they were found.
Neither of the hikers – whose names were not released – had any injuries, officials said.
“These young men did a lot of things right to give themselves the best chance of being rescued,” Lt. Maggie Champin, MH-65 aircraft commander for Sector North Bend, told the paper. “By writing ‘SOS’ in the snow, staying near their vehicle and staying near logging roads, we were able to find them relatively quickly. We recommend hikers carry personal locator beacons while out in the back country.”
During the rescue mission, the helicopter crew also identified two other hikers in distress and reported to the Lane County Sheriff’s Office.
According to the Oregonian, the name Swastika Mountain stems from the swastika-shaped livestock brand by a local rancher before the symbol was appropriated by the Nazis.
With Post wires
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