A 70-year-old Michigan man has been found alive after spending seven days missing in one of America’s most remote national parks, officials confirmed Saturday.
Craig Berg of Royal Oak, Michigan, was rescued by Coast Guard and Michigan State Police crews from Isle Royale National Park, located on an isolated island in Lake Superior near the Canadian border. He was discovered suffering from hypothermia and undisclosed injuries, but authorities reported he was alert when found.
The rescue operation concluded Saturday morning when a helicopter crew from Coast Guard Air Station Traverse City hoisted Berg from the ground in a dramatic extraction captured on video. He was immediately transported to a regional airport in Gwinn for emergency medical evaluation.
Berg had arrived at the national park on August 27 for what was planned as an extended solo hiking expedition. When he failed to return home as scheduled on September 5, authorities launched an extensive search operation that would ultimately involve multiple agencies and deploy considerable resources across both land and water.
The breakthrough came when fellow backpackers spotted Berg on Saturday and alerted authorities. Michigan State Police foot patrols and K-9 units then reached his location, coordinating with Coast Guard aviation assets for the helicopter evacuation.
The search effort represented a coordinated response involving the National Park Service, Michigan Department of Natural Resources, Keweenaw County Sheriff’s Office, Wisconsin State Patrol, and Minnesota Department of Public Safety. Resources deployed included a 45-foot Coast Guard boat, drones, seaplanes, and specialized K-9 search and rescue teams.
“We’re also thankful to the fellow hikers who helped, Isle Royale Seaplanes, and No One Left Behind K-9 Search and Rescue,” said Lieutenant Ben Eckola, a Michigan State Police public information officer. “Everyone’s efforts played an important part in finding Craig.”
Officials have not disclosed specific details about what occurred during Berg’s week in the wilderness or the exact nature of his injuries beyond the hypothermia diagnosis.
Isle Royale National Park presents unique challenges for both visitors and rescue operations. The park ranks among the least-visited in the national park system due to its remote location, accessible only by boat or seaplane. Infrastructure remains limited, with Berg’s wife, Debbie, noting that only two rangers are stationed on the island, along with two camp stores and a single lodge.
The isolation that attracts adventurous hikers to Isle Royale also complicates emergency response efforts, requiring coordination across state lines and the deployment of specialized equipment capable of operating in the park’s challenging terrain and Lake Superior’s unpredictable waters.
Berg’s successful rescue underscores both the risks inherent in solo wilderness hiking and the capabilities of coordinated search and rescue operations when properly mobilized. The fortunate outcome also highlights the value of fellow hikers remaining vigilant for others in distress, as it was civilian backpackers who ultimately spotted Berg and initiated the final phase of his rescue.
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