A Coast Guard helicopter crew made a perilous rescue of two hikers who were stuck on a small ledge 150 feet up after climbing a cliff in Olympic National Park to escape the rising tide.
Park Rangers called them in at about midnight Sunday night because the terrain was too steep for a ground rescue.
The pilot struggled to avoid trees and the cliffside with the helicopter’s hoist almost fully extended while a rescue swimmer prepared the woman and man to be lifted to safety.
The aircraft commander said the dark and dangerous conditions made it the most difficult hoist of his career.