KENTUCKY, USA — Four college students were rescued from Red River Gorge on Monday after getting caught in the middle of a winter storm while camping.
According to Powell County Search & Rescue, the four Asbury College students "underestimated" the weather conditions impacting the region. The group was stranded atop Courthouse Rock after waking up Monday morning covered in snow.
They ultimately decided it wasn't safe to climb back down and called for help around 9:30 a.m.
Rescue crews immediately began the difficult trek to the students' location.
Officials said it was "one of the most dangerous rescues ever attempted at the Gorge."
PHOTOS: Trapped college students rescued by helicopter at Red River Gorge
Officials said the journey to Courthouse Rock is dangerous even in good conditions, but with inches of snow, icy rock faces and below-zero wind chill -- it quickly became apparent the safest way to evacuate the students would be with the help of a Kentucky State Police helicopter.
"Helicopters are inherently dangerous," the rescue team wrote on social media. "When that is deemed the safest option, you know you've found yourself in a potentially life or death situation."
The trapped campers were eventually picked up by the helicopter around 2 p.m. and flown to the Middlefork Fire Department where Powell County EMS personnel evaluated their medical needs.
Other than being cold, the students are in good spirits, officials said.
"This rescue had its fair amount of risk to begin with," Powell County Search & Rescue said. "However, without KSP's services, the mission would have posed an even larger threat to the safety of the students and our team!"
Officials urge future campers to be cognizant of the weather when camping at the Gorge in the winter.
"Think about where you plan on hiking or camping and prepare an evacuation plan should conditions change," officials said. "In situations like this, preparation isn't just key, it can be lifesaving for both you and the rescuers you ask to come and get you!"
Governor urges residents to avoid unnecessary travel
During a Monday news conference, Governor Andy Beshear urged residents to avoid unnecessary travel over the next few days as more brutally cold weather blankets the region.
He said state officials are closely monitoring communities east of I-75 and south of I-64 – that’s where officials believe the most difficult road conditions and most snow will likely be.
"We've made it through record-setting tornadoes, floods, ice storms and windstorms -- we want everyone to be safe through this weather event," Beshear said, later adding, "After you've been through a bunch of these, maybe some people can get desensitized. Now's not the time to go camping or to choose to do something else, especially outside."
If you must travel, state officials urge extreme caution on the road as bitter cold temperatures will make it difficult for salt and other road treatments to be as effective.
Kentucky Transportation Cabinet Secretary Jim Gray said the state has more than 2,000 road crew member and 1,400 snow plows ready to deploy across the state. "Our crews have been preparing for this weather since early last summer," he said.
Beshear recently declared a state of emergency for this first bout of winter weather, enacting the state's National Guard to be able to respond to the inclement weather conditions. Maj. Gen. Haldane Lamberton, adjutant general of Kentucky, said soldiers and equipment are on stand-by across the state, ready to respond to any incident as needed.
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