Helicopters Rescue 2 Injured Hunters

Two injured hunters were airlifted from Glacier Peak Wilderness Area near Wenatchee Friday in separate accidents on the first day of high buck hunting season.

The 36th Rescue Flight from Fairchild Air Force Base used night-vision goggles to locate one of the men and hoisted him out without landing the helicopter.

Lewis Palmer, 46, of Issaquah, broke his leg while hiking north of Bryant Peak about 7 a.m. Friday.

A volunteer doctor from the Chelan County mountain rescue team flew to the scene in a county helicopter.

At noon about five miles away, Joe Cooper, 64, of Bothell, tumbled 300 feet down a steep slope when his mule slipped on a washed-out trail.

The mule also fell, rolling over Cooper.

The steepness prevented a helicopter landing, making it necessary to call the Air Force.

U.S. Forest Service wilderness guards hiking in the area radioed for help in both cases.

Both men spent the night at Central Washington Hospital in Wenatchee and were released.

The high buck hunt is restricted to four mountainous regions of the state.

Cooper’s hunting partners continued their hunt without him.

“I told them there isn’t a thing you can do for me,” Cooper said. “I’d say my hunting for the year is over.” , DataTimes