Rescuers trek through night to save severely hypothermic hiker on snowy Appalachian Trail

TO 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 snowstorm. On April 22 Press releaseThe Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife (MDIFW) detailed the dramatic Bigelow Mountain rescue.

On the evening of Monday, April 20, at approximately 9:30 pm, emergency services were contacted regarding a hypothermic hiker. The call came from a man concerned about his hiking partner, who he said was showing symptoms of severe hypothermia. He reportedly had slurred speech, blue lips, was losing muscle coordination, and was unsteady when walking.

The couple was visiting from Pennsylvania and was 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 there was approximately 3 to 5 inches of fresh snow on the mountain and temperatures were in the mid-teens at the time of the incident.

Rescuers quickly sprang into action and coordinated a multi-agency response. Park rangers, local EMS, Eustis Fire Department and search and rescue volunteers responded to the call. First responders gathered at the Stratton Brook Pond Road trailhead (mile 2010.4) just over an hour after the initial call and walked 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 21. They immediately began trying to warm the hikers by wrapping them in heavy sleeping bags, lighting fires, and providing them with hot drinks. Despite their efforts, the hypothermic hiker’s condition continued to worsen and it was determined that she would not be able to walk safely with assistance.

Additional search and rescue teams were dispatched but were canceled in lieu of an air rescue. First responders coordinated with the Maine Air National Guard and an Air National Guard Black Hawk helicopter was dispatched. At approximately 6:45 am, the helicopter crew successfully removed the patient and her hiking partner from the mountain.

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

MDIFW published in Facebook Thursday with a summary of the rescue and a reminder to be prepared for varying conditions, as the weather can change quickly this time of year.

The classic symptoms of hypothermia are «rumbles,» which can be characterized by moaning, hesitating, stammering, and stumbling, before finally collapsing. Knowing the signs and symptoms can help speed up treatment and evacuation.

“This rescue is a powerful reminder: spring in Maine doesn’t always mean mild conditions,» MDIFW wrote on Facebook. «The 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

This website contains affiliate links, which means The Trek may receive a percentage of any products or services you purchase using links in articles or advertisements. The buyer pays the same price they would otherwise pay, and their purchase helps support The Trek’s ongoing goal of bringing you quality backpacking information and advice. Thank you for your support!

For more information, visit the About page of this site.