ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Wednesday, January 10, 1996 TAG: 9601100078
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-3 EDITION: METRO
DATELINE: LURAY
SOURCE: Associated Press
Three hikers snowbound in Shenandoah National Park were rescued Tuesday, while seven others remained stranded but fortified after a Virginia National Guard helicopter dropped off food and water.
An armored personnel carrier - a tracked vehicle resembling a tank - reached the three hikers on its second attempt, Virginia Department of Emergency Services spokesman Mike LaCivita said. He said the vehicle found its first planned route impassable and got through another way.
The three called park officials Sunday after finding shelter from the storm in an 8-by-10-foot ranger's outpost. They had heat in the shack, but were running out of food, said Ranger Rusty Jensen.
Maj. Tom Wilkinson of the National Guard said the APCs were unable to reach a group of three adults and three children marooned at a campsite along the Rapidan River. That group, and a man who sought shelter in a lean-to in the park's primitive back country, were dropped supplies.
Wilkinson said 8-foot snow drifts blocked the APCs' path to the group. He said if the vehicles were unable to reach those stranded again Wednesday, a jungle extractor - or hoist - dangling from a helicopter may be used.
Park officials learned of people that may have been stranded when the storm began Saturday from family members that called in. Officials have no record of how many hikers are in the park because the usual back-country permits required have not been issued during the federal government shutdown.
One hiker who emerged from the park Monday said it took him a day to walk 1 1/2 miles out of the back country through the deep snow, park spokeswoman Lyn Rothgeb said. The hiker said he saw other campers on the rustic trails, but it was not clear who they were or whether they have been accounted for.
LENGTH: Short : 40 linesby CNB