Link to CNN/AP article

" ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) -- Ground and air crews are searching Denali National Park and Preserve for two women missing on what was supposed to be a short backpacking trip.

Searchers with dogs were looking for Abby Flantz, 25, of Gaylord, Minnesota, and Erica Nelson, 23, of Las Vegas, Nevada. The hikers were reported overdue Saturday when they did not show up for work at a hotel outside the park.

The women were last seen Thursday at the Savage River check station about 15 miles from park headquarters; they had planned to return Friday.

Nelson was supposed to be on a plane Sunday night to fly to Houston, where she was set to be maid of honor in her sister's wedding, park spokeswoman Kris Fister said.

Ground and air crews have searched nearly 100 square miles of the nearly 9,400-square-mile park. Searchers were planning to camp out Monday night about three miles from where the women were last seen, Fister said.

The area being searched consists of rugged terrain without trails ranging in elevation from approximately 2,000 feet to 6,000 feet. The two women are experienced trail hikers but had limited experience with Alaska backcountry conditions, Fister said.

Temperatures have been mostly typical of the season, with daytime highs in the 60s and nighttime lows in the 40s."

Edited by HechoEnDetroit on 06/17/2008 12:28:09 MDT.

lets pray that abby and erica are found safe and sound.

CNN article

also a local Alaska story reports on discovery

http://www.adn.com/news/alaska/story/440111.html

A very happy (and unexpected!) ending. Thank God. I used to hike all over that specific country when I was going to college in Fairbanks. Also, this area is only about 10-15 miles South east of the infamous "Into The Wild" dramatic tale of Christopher McCandless and the Magic Bus.

http://www.newsweek.com/id/141838