The 33-year-old man and his 27-year old girlfriend are stranded on an 18-inch ledge on the Ptarmigan Traverse hiking route in the North Cascades, according to Skagit County Sheriff's Search and Rescue.

Spokesman Joel Pratt said the man and woman called 911 around 7:30 p.m. Wednesday and said they were trapped at about 6,000 feet elevation on the Spire Point. The two said they were standing on a ledge on a face of the mountain.

"They're tired. They're cold. They're hypothermic," he said.

The terrain is very rugged and the two lost most of their gear while they were climbing down, leaving them with only one sleeping bag and part of a tent.

A helicopter was dispatched from the Whidbey Island Naval Air Station to rescue the two on Wednesday night, but they could not get to the peak due to deteriorating weather conditions.

Officials said cold temperatures, fog and heavy winds were plaguing the area. After three attempts, the Navy crew returned to base.

Ground searchers are using the locator feature in the pair's cell phone to try to pinpoint their location, and search and rescue officials plan to send a 3-person search team in to try to find them.

The hike in could take 10 to 12 hours.

Officials said their immediate goal will be to get warm clothes and supplies to stabilize the stranded hikers.

The hikers' names are not known.