Lost hikers found

BLANCHARD - A 47-year-old father and his 24-year-old son who were lost on Mount Spokane Saturday night were found on the north side of the mountain near Blanchard Sunday morning.

The pair, from Seattle, called park rangers at 5 p.m. on Saturday advising they were lost, according to a Spokane County Sheriff's Office press release.

Volunteers on snowmobiles located the two at 5 a.m. Sunday. They were both in good health, according to the sheriff's office. The sheriff's office did not release the names of the hikers. The hikers declined a request to be interviewed.

Deputies determined Saturday's cell call came from the Blanchard cell tower, which led deputies to believe the pair was on the north side of the mountain.

Spokane County Sheriff's Office Air 1 helicopter responded, but due to the low cloud level, deputies were not able to utilize the aircraft. About 20 volunteers from the sheriff's office search and rescue program also responded.

The father and son made a fire, stayed in one location and waited for rescuers to find them, according to the sheriff's office. They were dressed and prepared for the weather conditions and had food and fire-making material.

Search and rescue volunteers medically treated the two and determined it was safe for them to hike off the mountain. They received further medical attention by paramedics once off the mountain.

Deputies say that, if the father and son were not properly prepared, they likely would not have survived.