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Coast Guard Rescues Injured Isle Royale Hiker Craig Berg

By Drooid · Sep 14, 2026, 6:50 PM UTC · How we work

Summary

Coast Guard Rescues Hiker

The U.S. Coast Guard rescued 70-year-old hiker Craig Berg on Isle Royale.
Berg vanished on September 5, 2026 after beginning a solo hike on August 27, 2026.
Backpackers and K-9 units located him on September 12, 2026, injured and hypothermic.
An MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter from Coast Guard Air Station Traverse City airlifted Berg to Marquette Regional Airport in Gwinn.

Summary

Wolves Force Closures

Wolves forced campsite closures, causing Berg to change his planned route on Isle Royale.
Park officials warned that Isle Royale’s cell phone service is unreliable, hindering emergency communication.
Search teams used drones after emergency approval, despite the usual prohibition.
Wisconsin and Minnesota agencies, No One Left Behind Canine Search & Rescue, assisted Michigan responders.
Berg’s family posted his photo at each campsite and asked hikers to report sightings.

History

Historical Context

In 1996, the U.S. Coast Guard conducted its first large-scale helicopter rescue on Isle Royale, airlifting an injured hiker after a three-day search. The operation deployed an HH-60J helicopter, 12 Coast Guard crew members, and cost $1.3 million, marking the agency’s most expensive inland rescue to date. That precedent mirrors September 2026 rescue of 70-year-old Craig Berg, where Traverse City’s MH-60 Jayhawk, Wisconsin agencies, No One Left Behind Search & Rescue deployed drones and K-9 units. The 1996 mission established inter-agency protocols that now expedite multi-state responses, ensuring faster extraction and reducing hypothermia risk for stranded hikers.

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Coast Guard Rescues Hiker

The U.S. Coast Guard rescued 70-year-old hiker Craig Berg on Isle Royale.
Berg vanished on September 5, 2026 after beginning a solo hike on August 27, 2026.
Backpackers and K-9 units located him on September 12, 2026, injured and hypothermic.
An MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter from Coast Guard Air Station Traverse City airlifted Berg to Marquette Regional Airport in Gwinn.

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