*** Lost Hiker Found in Shelter Island Search, Alaska *** To: Search & Rescue Info Date sent: Fri, 29 Dec 95 16:16:43 -0800 From: Bruce Bowler Subject: Shelter Island Search To: "Martin Colwell" 19 year-old Woody Harwell and his buddy took their skiff over to Shelter Island 2 days after Christmas to look for deer. They split up around noon, but the sun went down a little after 3pm, and Woody didn't come back. A Coast Guard patrol boat spent the rest of the evening circling the island, lighting up the beaches and rocky cliffs, but with no luck. At first light, TEMSCO Helicopters took a search dog team from SEADOGS and a SEADOGS Overhead team to the small bay to set up a base camp and start the search. Conditions were too wet to get a signal fire going for attraction, and gunshots from the hasty team were lost within a few hundred yards, reminding everyone exactly what "rainforest" really means. In the meantime, Woody had found saltwater, and was picking his way through the woods and rocks, finally walking into a cleanup crew from Juneau Youth Services. Their marine radio brought SEADOGS' overhead team in to check him over, and the Coast Guard's small boat took him back to his family on the mainland. Happy New Year! Bruce Bowler ----------------------------------