CAMP DENALI, Alaska – Two teenagers are recovering in Bethel after they were rescued today by Alaska National Guard members.

On Monday, two brothers, 18-year-old Phillip Charlie, and 16-year-old Sam Charlie left Bethel on a day-long ptarmigan hunting trip by snow machine. They called in to their father at 4 pm that day and related to him that they were a few miles out from the trail near a lake. They had left Bethel at about 1:30 pm. They were told to check in, but were not heard from again that day.

Search and Rescue dispatched to look for the two later that day, but stormy conditions near Bethel hindered the search. Another Search crew went out again at approximately 8:30 pm, but weather conditions hampered those search efforts as well.

The boys were able to make contact by cell phone the next morning. They talked to their father, Ray Charlie, and let him know they were dry and in good health and were building a snow cave to get out of the elements as the storm continued to rage.

They informed their father that they had parked the snow machine along a trail near a trail marker after it had run out of gas. They were unaware which trail it was however.

At approximately 9:15 a.m. Jan. 29, Alaska State Troopers requested assistance from the 11^th Air Force Rescue Coordination Center in looking for the two hunters.

According to the Rescue Coordination Center, an Alaska Army National Guard crew and UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter from 1-207^th Aviation out of Bethel launched around 11:05 a.m. and searched for 4.2 hours. They were unable to spot the missing teens.

As they continued to make contact with their father throughout the day, GCI was able to track one of the calls and pinpointed the general area of the two brothers within five miles of Atmautluak and Nunapitchuk. The search for the boys was concentrated in that area through the rest of the afternoon and into the night. Visibility during that segment of the search was plagued by poor visibilty as the storm continued in the area. The two made their last call at 3 pm, and at that time they informed their father that their cell phone battery was critical.

An Alaska Air National Guard HC-130 from the 211th Rescue Squadron was dispatched from Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson with Guardian Angels from the 212th Rescue Squadron on board last night at approximately 8:40 pm.

That aircraft flew over the area for 5.9 hours searching with thermal-imaging gear and cell-phone locking equipment. they attempted to call the brothers’ cell phone as they performed overflights of the area with no success. They also dropped multiple flares throughout the area, which were visible from Bethel. With no positive results, the HC-130 left the area and returned to Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson at approximately 2 am.

Bethel Search and Rescue went out again this morning, along with State Trooper and Fish, and Wildlife planes. The Alaska Army National national Guard dispatched a UH-60 Blackhawk at 7 am to continue the search.

The Alaska State Troopers located the two hunters walking along the Johnson River and the troopers aircraft was able to give coordinates and guide the Alaska Army National Guard crew to the boys’ location, about 16 miles west of Bethel. The Black Hawk landed and picked the teens up, enroute to Bethel around 10:46 a.m.

The teens were met at the Bethel Airport by medical technicians and taken to the local hospital for treatment of frostbite and dehydration.

“This was truly a joint effort and collaboration of resources between multiple agencies to find these two teens,” said Capt. Steve Ludwig, 11^th Rescue Coordination Center, Alaska Air National Guard. “It was a successful outcome because of the strong partnerships we have built.”

Information from Kalei Rupp | Alaska National Guard, Bethel Search and Rescue and Alaska State Trooper Dispatch was utilized for this article