The Anchorage Fire Department responded to the Flat Top parking lot in Chugach State Park, high above Anchorage just before noon today to a 911 caller reporting an injured hiker. Back country rescues in Chugach State Park are the responsibility of the Alaska State Troopers and they requested the assistance of the Anchorage Fire Department in this rescue. AFD responded to the parking lot with 11 units including Rescue 9 with technical mountaineering equipment for high angle rescue work, Rescue 10 with off-road ATV's from the Rabbit Creek Station and extra firefighters and paramedics from the O'Malley and Dimond fire stations as well as command staff from across Anchorage. A total of 24 firefighters responded.  1 Alaska State Trooper also arrived at the scene during rescue operations.   The on-scene commander requested the assistance of the AK National Guard Rescue Helicopter from the Kulis Air National Guard base at the airport.  The Helicopter was on location in about a half hour of the original call.  While firefighters hiked up the Flat-Top trail to assess the situation the Incident Commander was able to talk with bystanders on the trail with the patient that were assisting in giving first aid and keeping the injured hiker warm.

The injured hiker was a 21 year old male who had been climbing up the trail to the top of Flat-Top with his church group and on the way down had deliberatly slid down a hard packed snow slope alongside the trail cutting his hands and injuring his buttocks and legs in his uncontrolled slide. He reportedly slid 300 yards before stopping.  The injured hiker was unable to walk down the trail to meet rescuers and the ATV's from the fire department were unable to operate to ascend the deep snow of the trail to the area. The Incident Commander decided to have the helicopter rescue the hiker.  The guard helicopter was able to drop  pararescue personnel who were able to treat the victim and hoist him up into the helicopter and transport him to Alaska Regional Hospital suffering from lacerations to his hands and some non-life threatening injuries to his legs. 

Firefighters were all able to get back to the parking area safely and the rescue operation was terminated at 1:39 PM.