 & making themselves as visible as possible September 07, 2010
 Photo courtesy Ketchikan Volunteer Rescue Squad (KVRS)
The two were located on the west shoreline of McDonald Lake by a Ketchikan Volunteer Rescue Squad (KVRS) fixed wing aircraft at 10:39 am the two victims were sighted by 061 on the west shoreline of McDonald Lake. The aircraft was able to land and pick them up and return them to the lodge. They were wet and cold but not injured and in excellent spirits said Jerry Kiffer, the on scene commander for KVRS. In a post incident interview, the teens reported they had walked up the trail to the cabin. Arriving before dark at the cabin they thought there must be more trail so started north along the lake, they thought the trail they were following had made a turn back toward the lodge so continued to follow what they described as a possible game trail. They walked until after dark and spent the night somewhere near the lake shore but not sure where. They got up after daylight and continued walking down the lake. They said they heard the search aircraft and several times turned around and walked towards the sound of the aircraft but did not know which direction to go to get back to the lodge. Kiffer, the on-scene commander for KVRS, credited the teens' survival to keeping calm and attempting to make themselves as visible as possible. According to Kiffer the assistance received from the Yes Bay lodge and their staff was incredible. Kiffer said, Kevin Hack, a long time owner of Yes Bay has always supported search and rescue and this operation was no exception. Kiffer siaid Hack's staff searched until early hours of the morning, the lodge was made available for a remote base camp and their company aircraft was used to bring search crews from Ketchikan. "I can't thank them enough for their participation, it made a huge difference in this operation" said Kiffer. Source of News:
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