Rescuers locate missing hikers near Sultan River

Published 12:01 am Monday, July 18, 2011

SULTAN — Snohomish County Search and Rescue crews were working Sunday night to rescue two people and a dog at the base of a 200-foot cliff near the Sultan River.

Crews received a call from a woman at about 2:30 p.m. who was concerned about the welfare of her husband and son who went hiking i

n the Sultan Basin on Saturday.

The 31-year-old man, his 10-year-old son and their dog left at 6 p.m. with plans to pan for minerals and spend the night.

The man called his wife at 10 p.m. Saturday and told her that his backpack had burned in a fire and the pair were on the side of a cliff and taking shelter in a tree trunk.

The father and son were spotted from a helicopter. Crews were able to lower a radio and equipment to help warm them.

The man, his son and the dog were reportedly cold and wet but uninjured, Snohomish County sheriff’s Lt. Rick Hawkins said.