Montana News

Found Glacier NP hikers to head home soon

Posted: Oct 16, 2012 8:47 AM by Tara Oster - MTN News

KALISPELL - A pair of hikers missing in Glacier National Park were found safe on Monday afternoon.

"It's high fives and goosebumps, you know, down the arms. It's just so wonderful to know that they're fine and doing well," Glacier National Park spokesperson Denise Germann told us.

Searchers spent the past few days scouring the area near Pitamakan Pass for any signs of Jason Hiser and Neal Peckens. The details about what happened and exactly where the two men were found haven't been fully released yet, but Germann told us the two were found unharmed.

"The family is quite excited, as well as all the search personnel are," Germann said.

Hiser and Peckens were reunited with their families shortly after being found and they will soon be heading back home to the East Coast.

"It's just a great feeling to know that they're out of the back country, that they're safe and they're with their families," Germann explained.

A helicopter started bringing some of the searchers back from the area after the two men were found, but the rest of the search teams will either hike out on Tuesday or be flown out.

"Great appreciation goes to all of our partner agencies. Flathead County has been wonderful; North Valley Search and Rescue, the Border Patrol; everyone's been great and so we definitely appreciate everybody's help with this," added Germann.

She told us late Monday that Hiser and Peckens will be debriefed before they head home, so Glacier personnel can learn exactly what happened to the pair.