Yesterday, the Alaska State Troopers received two separate reports of a man suffering from injuries while mountain climbing.

The calls came in to troopers in Fairbanks yesterday at 1:15 pm. The reports indicated that a man, now identified as 20-year-old Jason Zesiger from Salcha, had suffered a fall while mountain climbing at the Angel Rocks Recereation area 50 miles east of Fairbanks off of the Chena Hot Springs Road.

The injured man was about 1.5 miles up the Angel Rocks trail and was suffering from head,leg and hip injuries according to reports.

Rescue efforts were hampered by poor reception where Zesiger was located, but an Alaska State Trooper, a Public Safety Wildlife Technician, and two Park Rangers were able to hike in and access the scene at about 3:45 pm. Medical personnel and Fairbanks Wilderness Search and Rescue followed at 4:30 pm.

Zesiger’s condition was evaluated prior to transporting him out via rescue litter. He was taken to a waiting Steese Volunteer Fire Department ambulance waiting at the trail head.

Zesiger and all of the responding crews were able to make it back to the trailhead by 6:15 pm.

Zesiger was transported to the Fairbanks Memorial hospital, where he was treated for non-life threatening injuries.