Helicopter rescues stranded hiker near Index

Published 5:51 pm Wednesday, September 11, 2013

INDEX — A rescue helicopter flew a hiker to safety Wednesday after he became stranded on a ledge near Merchant Peak more than five miles east of Index, officials said.

The Des Moines man, 67, is an experienced hiker who realized he could not safely climb down from his spot, Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office spokeswoman Shari Ireton said.

The sheriff’s Search and Rescue helicopter SnoHawk 10 arrived around 3 p.m.