Magic in the Mountains

This article originally appeared on The Trek, which you can read here.

A severely hypothermic hiker and her hiking partner were rescued from the Appalachian Trail in Maine earlier this week in the wake of a late-season snowstorm. In an April 22nd press release, the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife (MDIFW) detailed the dramatic rescue from Bigelow Mountain. 

On Monday night, April 20th, at approximately 9:30 p.m., emergency services were contacted regarding a hypothermic hiker. The call came from a man concerned about his female hiking partner, whom he said was displaying symptoms of severe hypothermia. She reportedly had slurred speech, blue lips, was losing muscle coordination, and was unstable when walking.

The pair were visiting from Pennsylvania, and were located on the Appalachian Trail between West Peak (NOBO mile 2017.2) and Avery Peak (NOBO mile 2017.9) on Bigelow Mountain. Weather reports indicate that there was approximately 3-5” of fresh snow on the mountain and that temperatures were in the mid-teens at the time of the incident.

Rescuers quickly jumped into action and coordinated a multi-agency response. Game Wardens, local EMS, the Eustis Fire Department, and search-and-rescue volunteers responded to the call. Responders gathered at the Stratton Brook Pond Road trailhead (mile 2010.4) just over an hour after the initial call and hiked the steep 4.5-mile Fire Warden Trail to access the Appalachian Trail.

They reached the hikers at approximately 1:45 a.m. on Tuesday, April 21st. They immediately began attempting to warm the hikers by wrapping them in heavy sleeping bags, building a fire, and providing warm drinks. Despite their efforts, the hypothermic hiker’s condition continued to decline, and it was determined that she would be unable to hike out safely with assistance. 

Additional search and rescue crews had been dispatched, but were called off in lieu of an aerial rescue. Responders coordinated with the Maine Air National Guard, and an Air National Guard Black Hawk helicopter was dispatched. At approximately 6:45 a.m., the helicopter crew successfully hoisted both the patient and her hiking partner from the mountain.

The pair was transported to the Carrabassett Valley Regional Airport, where Maine Health Ambulance Services provided treatment for severe hypothermia. The pair was treated but refused transport to a hospital and was released. All rescue personnel returned safely to the trailhead by approximately 10 a.m. on Tuesday, and no casualties were reported. 

MDIFW posted to Facebook on Thursday with a recap of the rescue and a reminder to be prepared for varied conditions, as weather can change quickly this time of year. 

Classic hypothermic symptoms are the “umbles,” which can be characterized by grumbling, fumbling, mumbling, and stumbling, before eventually crumbling. Knowing the signs and symptoms can help expedite treatment and evacuation.

“This rescue is a powerful reminder: spring in Maine doesn’t always mean mild conditions,” wrote MDIFW on Facebook. “Weather can change quickly — especially at higher elevations — and being prepared can make all the difference.”

Featured image: Trail sign on Bigelow Mountain’s Avery Peak, photographed in 2022. Photo: Eric and Hayley