Trail hiker recovers after rescue - Central Maine Morning Sentinel

[WhiteBlaze]

Trail hiker recovers after rescue Central Maine Morning Sentinel, ME - 31 minutes ago ... rescue organizations and northstar EMS were mobilized Sunday afternoon to help a hiker on the Appalachian Trail who was suffering from hypothermia. ...

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[woodsy]

These guys were actually on the Bigelow Range Trail, not the AT.
I came across these turn around tracks yesterday about a 1/2 mile west of Cranberry Peak. I had hiked across from the AT and into Stratton, then hitched a ride back to the AT at Stratton Brook Pond Road.
It's not unusual to find turn around tracks in winter but this helps explain why these guys turned around.
I had been hiking untracked trail for a mile and a half when i found these tracks. This broken trail had set up firm and made for much better traction than the loose fluff i had been walking on.
That trail coming out of Stratton is one steep and washed out muther.
I would not recomend this Bigelow Range trail for winter hiking. It's downright difficult.
On another note, i met a overnighter school group coming down the AT in the AM who had a similar incident with one of them getting cold and having to set up camp before reaching their destination the night before.
When I reached Cranberry Peak I had to change out some of my clothing from being wet with sweat. It's necessary in winter to bring a complete change of clothing for this reason. It could save your life.

[Dakota Dan]

Trail hiker recovers after rescue Central Maine Morning Sentinel, ME - 31 minutes ago ... rescue organizations and northstar EMS were mobilized Sunday afternoon to help a hiker on the Appalachian Trail who was suffering from hypothermia. ...

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The article was not nearly as interesting as the "Comment" by "Rocky6". A lot of locals who pay taxes to rescue the unprepared are starting to get more hostel. And, who's to blame them.

[Frosty]

The article was not nearly as interesting as the "Comment" by "Rocky6". A lot of locals who pay taxes to rescue the unprepared are starting to get more hostel. And, who's to blame them.

Rocky6 has a point. Hypothermia is dangerous because you tend to make really poor decisions. But he was with two others and was only two miles from the road when he called for help. Just continuing to walk would have kept him a bit warmer and gotten him out within an hour. And he eventually walked out himself, anyway.

On the other hand, do you know many SAR folks? They live for rescues, the ones I know. The tougher the rescue, the better they like it, at least after the fact. I was talking to a guy who many years ago brought down two frozen hikers from Huntington (this was a recovery, not a rescue). The guys (from NJ who started up Huntington about 2 in the afternoon), had taken shelter behind a couple boulders and had frozen solid with legs and arms in odd, spread out positions. To hear him tell the story, it was a horrible time carryin out the bodies, one with an arm sticking out sideways and one leg straight out and the other bent at the knee but splayed out. Still, you could hear the excitement in his voice as he relived the day.

[mudhead]

People are odd. I will never say anything negative about SAR types.

Might need that gung-ho mentality someday.

[dessertrat]

That's true. It's like the strange firefighters who love fires. So long as they don't start them, and still arrive to put them out, so what. . .

[Flush2wice]

Rocky6 has a point. Hypothermia is dangerous because you tend to make really poor decisions. But he was with two others and was only two miles from the road when he called for help. Just continuing to walk would have kept him a bit warmer and gotten him out within an hour. And he eventually walked out himself, anyway.

But what Rocky6 ignored is that those SAR's were volunteers. Rocky6 won't pay a dime in taxes to rescue that guy. The EMS they mentioned was most likely an ambulance and they'll charge him if they performed any services.

[SawnieRobertson]

Rocky6 has a point. Hypothermia is dangerous because you tend to make really poor decisions. But he was with two others and was only two miles from the road when he called for help. Just continuing to walk would have kept him a bit warmer and gotten him out within an hour. And he eventually walked out himself, anyway.

On the other hand, do you know many SAR folks? They live for rescues, the ones I know. The tougher the rescue, the better they like it, at least after the fact. I was talking to a guy who many years ago brought down two frozen hikers from Huntington (this was a recovery, not a rescue). The guys (from NJ who started up Huntington about 2 in the afternoon), had taken shelter behind a couple boulders and had frozen solid with legs and arms in odd, spread out positions. To hear him tell the story, it was a horrible time carryin out the bodies, one with an arm sticking out sideways and one leg straight out and the other bent at the knee but splayed out. Still, you could hear the excitement in his voice as he relived the day.

Frosty is absolutely right about how SAR people feel. They have trained, they are ready, getting to do their thing is gratifying. If any of you should take an EMT-B course, I think you would understand. It is not a sick desire. It's a gathering of more expertise. Also, it makes for great tales around the kitchen table as needed for the rest of one's life.--Kinnickinic

[Alligator]

I get what you are saying Frosty.

[Frosty]

People are odd. I will never say anything negative about SAR types.

Might need that gung-ho mentality someday.

I didn't mean it in a negative way. They are heroes, people who live to put themselves in harm's way to help others. But it isn't necessarily self-sacrifice. Well, yes it is, but what I am trying to say is that they ENJOY going out on rescues. Lots of townfolk complain about the cost, but not SAR types. They will tell stories of the dumbest people they've rescued, but they love what they do, and see it as worthwhile. That's what I meant in the earlier post.

It is just how they are, like volunteeer firemen. They would never wish a fire on anyone, ever, but boy do they really enjoy fighting fires. The more they help, the tougher the job, the better memories they have.