The Herbert Glacier, located between the Herbert and Eagle Rivers about 30 miles from downtown Juneau, is pictured in November 2017. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire File)                                 The Herbert Glacier, located between the Herbert and Eagle Rivers about 30 miles from downtown Juneau, is pictured in November 2017. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire File)

The Herbert Glacier, located between the Herbert and Eagle Rivers about 30 miles from downtown Juneau, is pictured in November 2017. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire File) The Herbert Glacier, located between the Herbert and Eagle Rivers about 30 miles from downtown Juneau, is pictured in November 2017. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire File)

Coast Guard rescues injured hiker off Herbert Glacier

Hiker transferred to Bartlett Regional Hospital for injuries

The U.S. Coast Guard on Sunday night successfully rescued a hiker off Herbert Glacier after she slipped on the ice and sustained an injury to her leg, according to the Coast Guard.

At 5:24 p.m. the Alaska State Trooper’s dispatch center in Ketchikan received a report from a backpacker 25 miles north of Juneau, via an InReach satellite messaging device, Timothy DeSpain, an information officer at the Alaska Department of Public Safety, told the Empire via email. The person reported that a member of their party had a possible broken ankle with bleeding and needed rescue.

The Juneau Coast Guard was contacted by the Alaska State Troopers and performed the rescue. The hiker — identified as Abby Leatherman, 22 — was rescued at 8:48 p.m., DeSpain said.

Leatherman was transferred to Capital City Fire/Rescue personnel for transport to Bartlett Regional Hospital for treatment of her injuries, said DeSpain. No hypothermia was reported at the time of her evacuation, U.S. Coast Guard spokesperson Petty Officer Lauren Dean said.


• Contact reporter Mollie Barnes at 523-2228 or mbarnes@juneauempire.com. Follow her on Twitter @holyguacamollie.


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