MOUNT RAINIER NATIONAL PARK, Wash. (AP) — Mount Rainier National Park says rangers rescued a pair of climbers who had spent two nights near the volcano's summit after being overtaken by extreme weather.

The News Tribune newspaper reports the climbers were descending the 14,410-foot peak on Friday when the storm hit. They dug a snow cave at 14,300 feet to wait it out and sent distress signals from their emergency beacons.

Conditions delayed rescuers until Sunday morning, when a search helicopter was sent to airlift them from Disappointment Cleaver, at 13,500 feet. The park said they were in stable condition and able to walk.

Park spokeswoman Patti Wold said the climbers were on the most common route to the top. They were not affiliated with any of the mountain's three guide services.

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