ANCHORAGE — A climber injured in a fall on Pioneer Peak near Palmer was hoisted to safety Monday night by the Alaska Air Guard.
Alaska State Troopers said 23-year-old Shawnee Whitehorse of Palmer fell and was injured when an ice axe lodged in her back.
Her climbing partner, 46-year-old Lisa Pierimarchi, reported the fall shortly after 9:30 p.m.
She told troopers that Whitehorse was unable to move and that both climbers were getting cold due to falling temperatures.
She provided GPS coordinates to rescuers.
The Butte Fire Department paramedics began hiking to the climbers but faced steep terrain and called for the Alaska Air Guard, which had a crew ready to launch.
Troopers spokeswoman Megan Peters said Whitehorse’s injury was not life-threatening.
