SNOQUALMIE PASS, Wash. -- Two teenage boys were trapped in a snow and ice cave near Melakwa Lake for nearly five hours before being rescued.

The boys were standing inside the snow cave in the Snoqualmie Pass area when it collapsed on them around 1:30 p.m. Thursday, Matt Cowan of the Snoqualmie Pass Fire Department said.

The first boy, 14, was rescued around 6:20 p.m. His condition is serious, but non-life-threatening, said John Urquhart of the King County Sheriff’s Office. Hypothermia is the biggest concern for both boys.

The second boy, 17, was rescued around 6:45 p.m. His condition is currently unknown.

A Blackhawk helicopter was brought in to transport the boys to Harborview Medical Center.

RAW VIDEO: Crews Using Chainsaws, Shovels To Rescue Boys

As of 5 p.m., KIRO 7 reporter Chris Legeros said rescue crews were able to talk to one of the boys. Twenty minutes later, crews reported being able to communicate with both boys. This was the first time crews had contact with the boys since the collapse occurred at about 1:30 p.m., Cowan said.

Melakwa Lake, in the Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest, is off the Denny Creek exit of Interstate 90.

The King County Sheriff's Department told KIRO 7 Eyewitness News reporter Gary Horcher that technical avalanche and high-angel rescue teams, dogs and Eastside, Bellevue and Snoqualmie fire personnel all participated in the rescue effort and tried to dig the ice and snow out as quickly as possible.

RAW VIDEO: Crews Using Chainsaws, Shovels To Rescue Boys

The County Sheriff's Department initially said the boys were standing on a large snow mass while posing for a picture. Their parents reported hearing a noise, and when they turned back, the boys were gone.

Reporter Chris Legeros has learned that the boys were actually in the cave when it collapsed.

Cowan said the snow collapsed under the boys and the sides buried them. Family members tried to dig the boys out but were unsuccessful, he said.

Video from Chopper 7 showed a wall of snow on a steep hillside, some of which had collapsed. Crews could be seen using a chain saw to cut through blocks of ice and getting them out of the way.

Other hikers and both parents of the victims are gathered at the scene.

The site of the collapse is two to three miles up the Melakwa Lake trail, just above Melakwa Falls.

A command post headed by the Snoqualmie Fire Department was set up at the Denny Creek Trailhead.