We pick the crews carefully and train meticulously. We depend on each other, and every member of the team knows it. Two HART Chinooks flew 120 miles from Fort Wainwright to a base camp at 7,000-feet on McKinley and picked up three volunteer Park Service climbers. Just before the crew arrived on the scene, one of the Spanish climbers plummeted 4,000 feet to his death. Time was of the essence.
Crew members monitor oxygen and fuel levels, secure equipment and rig hoists during rescues.
Tension ran high as the aircraft neared the mountain. Turner concentrated on keeping the rotors up, constantly adjusting the throttle to maintain control. When the aircraft was about 30 feet from the ground, it hit a downdraft, making for an abrupt landing. It then slid to a stop as its ski skids, used year-round by aviators in Alaska, left streaks in the snow. The Park Service volunteers climbed almost 300 feet down the mountain to reach the remaining two stranded climbers, returning them to the aircraft about three hours later.