2 hikers rescued from Spire Point

Two hikers who had become stranded on Spire Point in the North Cascades were rescued Friday afternoon by a Navy helicopter that was finally able to reach a safe landing zone, according to Skagit County sheriff's deputies.

Mountain rescue volunteers had been able earlier in the day to help the two climb down to an area below the cloud ceiling where the Whidbey Island-based Navy helicopter was able to land, according to Skagit County Chief Deputy Will Reichardt.

The two were first reached by rescue workers about three miles from where they were finally picked up by the chopper around 2 p.m., Reichardt said.

The stranded hikers were airlifted to a Search and Rescue command post area in Concrete, deputies said.

They were checked by a Navy paramedic who reported they were in fair condition and would not require hospitalization, Reichardt said.

He said family members of Matthew Edwards, 33, and Robin Gibson, 27, of Wendell, Mass., were waiting when they got off the helicopter.

Reichardt said the Navy helicopter was returning to the mountain to pick up remaining search volunteers.

The first rescue team reached the two, who had spent nearly two days on an 18-inch ledge on the mountain near Darrington before they were reached by rescue workers.

Friday's rescue capped what has been a harrowing week for hikers in the region, with unseasonal rain and cooler-than-normal temperatures that made it feel more like October than late August.

On Thursday, Thomas L. Dunn, 27, died after falling about 200 feet from a viewpoint known as the Haystack on Mount Si, about 30 miles east of Seattle. The King County Medical Examiner's Office said Friday that Dunn died from multiple internal injuries. He was from San Jose, Calif.

And earlier in the week, three teenage boys were rescued after spending the night stranded in inclement weather on Three Fingers Mountain in Snohomish County.

Hikers should prepare

The Washington Trails Association is recommending that with more autumnlike weather in the forecast, it behooves hikers to take extra precautions.

Before setting out, the trails association says, hikers should carefully choose the destination and take time to check trail conditions and weather forecasts.

Hikers should always let someone know where they will be and when they plan to return. They should carry warm clothes and be prepared for any weather. Packing backcountry essentials could be lifesaving if hikers become lost or injured.

Many trails still have lingering snowfields from last winter that could make hiking more difficult. Snow levels have dropped considerably during the past week, and some trails may have new snow. The association recommends calling ahead to local ranger stations for conditions.

The association says hikers should turn back if treacherous snow and ice are encountered, unless hikers are equipped with an ice ax and are knowledgeable about how to use it.

In snowy areas, hikers should be aware of avalanche danger.

The association endorses WOWweather.com, Washington Online Weather, as a good source for avalanche conditions and safety. Hiker-safety information is available at www.wta.org.