A couple was rescued from Hawaii's Mauna Loa volcano during severe winter weather on Monday, park officials announced Tuesday.
The two hikers were about 11,000 feet above the remote slopes of Mauna Loa on Sunday morning in windy, freezing weather, with no food or water left and no cellphone batteries, according to a state newspaper. I reported that it was about to run out. This was announced by the National Park Service (NPS).
Hawaii Volcanoes National Park rangers arrived by helicopter to reach the unharmed hikers and delivered food, water and satellite communications equipment.
NPS said rangers gave the hikers directions to the nearest shelter on the mountain and allowed them to hike on their own because the altitude and gusty winds made evacuation by helicopter too dangerous.
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Hikers called for help after running out of food and water during an arduous hike to the summit of Mauna Loa in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. (Photo credit: © CORBIS/Corbis via Getty Images, File)
But by nightfall, the couple texted rangers to say they had lost the trail at about 10,300 feet due to bad weather. That night, a helicopter team was unable to reach the hikers due to darkness, and the crew instead flew the Ranger the next morning.
Rangers located the hikers and took the couple off the mountain one by one by helicopter.
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Jack Colao, chief ranger at Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, said the dangerous search and rescue operation could have been avoided if the hikers had followed instructions and obtained permits to hike.
Mauna Loa Volcano in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, which stands over 10,000 feet above sea level, has been closed due to severe weather. (George Rose/Getty Images, File)
“Due to severe winter weather, the park closed the summit of Mauna Loa on January 9th and revoked all high-altitude backcountry permits. We immediately posted a closure warning on our website and social media,” Colao said. he said. “Their actions put themselves, the pilots, and the rangers at great unnecessary risk.”
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The couple, along with two other hikers who separated before the distress call, were charged with operating without a permit. The other pair was able to descend the mountain on their own.
