In a remarkable turn of events, social media users who were tuning in to watch live footage of bears and other natural wonders in Alaska ended up playing a crucial role in the rescue of a lost hiker. The incident took place on Dumpling Mountain in Katmai National Park, where a live camera had been set up since 2013. According to USA Today, the camera positioned approximately 2,200 feet high, usually captures serene views of mountains, lakes, and occasionally, wildlife.
However, on this particular day, viewers noticed something unusual. At around 4:00 p.m. Alaskan time, amidst poor weather conditions characterized by limited visibility, strong winds, driving rain, and dense fog, a distressed hiker appeared on the screen. The individual looked directly into the camera, signaling distress with a thumb-down gesture, before walking off and returning to ask for assistance.Â
Mike Fitz, the founder of Fat Bear Week and a former ranger at Katmai National Park, expressed his astonishment at the viewers’ attentiveness. He mentioned that given the weather conditions, it was highly unlikely to spot any animals or significant landscape features. Yet, the viewers were not only watching but were also paying close attention.Â
Comments on the live feed from that day revealed the viewers’ concern. One comment read, “There is someone distressed on the camera 3:30 p.m. – 3:43.” Following this, a webcam and chat moderator acknowledged the viewers’ alerts. The information was then relayed to park rangers and eventually reached Fitz, who was at his home in Maine. Despite the challenging conditions, Fitz and a camera operator tried to keep track of the hiker’s movements.Â
The hiker’s situation was precarious. Fitz explained that even though the location was only two straight-line miles from Brooks River and the park’s visitor center, the adverse weather made it feel worlds apart. The mountain’s peak often experiences worse weather conditions, making it challenging for individuals to find their bearings.Â
Adding to the complexity, the area has no cellular phone reception. Katmai National Park spans about 4 million acres, making it one of the largest national parks in the U.S., even surpassing the combined size of Yellowstone and Yosemite national parks. In such vast and remote terrains, the only means of communication is typically through satellite connections.Â
Explore.org, the organization behind the live cameras, has over 180 cameras set up. Fitz stated that while they’ve witnessed many intriguing wildlife behaviors through these cameras, this was the first instance of a human rescue. Once the hiker was safely rescued, the online community celebrated the successful intervention.
One viewer commented on the hiker’s attempt to communicate, noting that while they could only make out the words “help me” and “lost,” others were able to discern more from the hiker’s lip movements. Fitz expressed his gratitude to the vigilant webcam viewers, the Explore.org team, and the park rangers who facilitated the rescue.
He emphasized the global nature of the webcam viewership, noting that they’ve significantly contributed to the understanding of brown bears and salmon, which are the primary focus of the Katmai National Park webcams. In light of the incident, Cynthia Hernandez, a spokesperson for the National Park Service, stressed the importance of visitors preparing adequately for their trips to Katmai National Park. She recommended packing essentials such as maps, compasses, sunscreen, and hats.
Additionally, she pointed to online resources like the National Park Service’s Trip Planning Guide and Outdoor Emergency Plan to assist hikers in their preparations. This incident serves as a testament to the power of technology and global community collaboration in ensuring safety and well-being, even in the most unexpected circumstances.Â
