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ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) — National Park Service officials say two climbers from Idaho who stomped out "SOS" in the snow were rescued unharmed from an Alaska mountain after triggering an avalanche.
Officials say 27-year-old Saxon Spellman of Pocatello and 24-year-old Michael Wachs of Idaho Falls were not caught in the avalanche Monday evening at the 7,500-foot level of Mount Dickey in Denali National Park and Preserve.
Park spokeswoman Maureen Gualtieri says the climbers tried to leave the area on their own but were unable to find a safe exit route.
The pilot of an air taxi saw the stranded climbers waving their arms near an "SOS" that had been stomped out in the snow on the west shoulder of the 9,545-foot mountain.
Park rangers flew by helicopter to the area after being notified. The helicopter pilot landed on a flat area, and the climbers were flown out.
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