70-Year-Old Hiker Found Alive After Week Lost in Isle Royale

Craig Berg, 70 years old, was found alive Saturday after disappearing a week prior while hiking Isle Royale National Park. Officials say he is alert now that rescuers have brought him back from hypothermia. The U.S. Coast Guard Great Lakes shared this update on Sept. 12. They said crews pulled an injured and ailing man out of the park following his disappearance on Sept. 5.

Video footage released by authorities captures a helicopter team from Coast Guard Air Station Traverse City lifting Berg from the ground. He was flown to a regional airport in Gwinn for emergency medical evaluation. Officials stopped short of explaining exactly what happened while he was gone or offering more details about his injuries.

Backpackers spotted him first. Good Samaritans on foot found him Saturday before Michigan State Police patrols and K-9 units arrived, according to officials. The search drew multiple agencies and resources, including a 45-foot Coast Guard boat, drones, and seaplanes. Teams from the National Park Service, Michigan Department of Natural Resources, Keweenaw County Sheriff's Office, Wisconsin State Patrol, and Minnesota Department of Public Safety joined the effort. Lt. Ben Eckola, a Michigan State Police public information officer, noted that everyone's work helped find Craig. He added in a statement that they are thankful for fellow hikers, Isle Royale Seaplanes, and No One Left Behind K9 Search and Rescue.

Berg, from Royal Oak, Michigan, arrived at the park on Aug. 27 for an extended solo hike but did not return home until Sept. 5, according to a report by The Detroit Free Press. Isle Royale National Park sits on a remote island in Lake Superior near the Canadian border. Its distance and sparse infrastructure keep visitor numbers low. His wife, Debbie, told The Detroit Free Press that only two rangers are stationed on the island, and there are just two camp stores plus a lodge.

Cell phone service is often unreliable, according to the park's website. Many pieces of equipment face restrictions on the island. Bicycles, motorized vehicles, and drones are generally prohibited. This setup means information access remains limited for those who venture out there.