SKAMANIA COUNTY, Wash. — Two hikers remain missing in southwest Washington Wednesday afternoon after they became stranded when early season snowfall blocked their route.
The hikers, Kristopher Zitzewitz and Alejandra Wilson, are in a remote area of the Pacific Crest Trail in Skamania County.
Portland man Zitzewitz disappeared Saturday. He and his friend became separated while looking for caves.
Wilson, 23, hasn't been seen since Friday.
The search area is more than 70 square miles.
Tuesday night, a helicopter rescued two other hikers who were stuck on the same trail where it crosses the western flank of 12,280-foot Mount Adams.
The rescue came after a group searching on the ground got within less than a mile of hikers, but were stopped by deep snow.
The Coast Guard chopper also picked up those five searchers, including one who had sprained an ankle.
Coast Guard video showed hikers Matt Margiotta and Kyla Arnold being hoisted out of the snow to safety.
Margiotta and Arnold had walked all the way from Mexico but became snowbound and were running out of food.
They were taken to Portland, uninjured.
KIRO
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