Appalachian Trail hiker rescued from mountain in Maine

FRANKLIN COUNTY, Maine — An injured hiker on Spaulding Mountain in Mount Abram Township was rescued Wednesday evening many thanks to a coordinated effort by video game wardens and around 35 to start with responders and volunteers.

Richard Sullivan, 65, of Archdale, N.C., and his son Daniel Sullivan, 36, experienced just not too long ago started their journey to hike on the Appalachian Trail from Maine to Georgia when Richard acquired hurt. The Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife said in a release Thursday the pair were at the prime of Spaulding Mountain when Richard slipped and fell, hurting his ankle and leaving him not able to walk. They referred to as 911 for enable about 1 p.m.

MDIFW spokesman Mark Latti explained they coach consistently with look for and rescue volunteer groups, who educate on their possess as effectively. Latti mentioned when there’s a rescue like this, MDIFW puts a get in touch with out to speak to the regional rescue corporations and hearth departments, and “those who are out there show up to aid.”

The MDIFW explained the spot wherever the Sullivans ended up on the path was complicated to accessibility, and disorders were wet, rocky, and steep. Rescuers drove as a result of a upkeep street on Sugarloaf Mountain and then hiked about 3 and a fifty percent miles down the backside of the mountain to the Sullivans on Spaulding Mountain, exactly where rescuers arrived at them all around 5 p.m.

A specific rescue litter geared up with a biking wheel was employed to help Richard down the trail and up Sugarloaf to a motor vehicle. Rescuers and the Sullivans achieved the top rated of Sugarloaf by 10:40 p.m. Richard was then taken down the mountain, to the Carrabassett Valley Hearth Office, and then to Franklin Memorial Medical center in Farmington. All in all, the rescue work took virtually 12 several hours.

Recreation Warden Sergeant Scott Thrasher said the rescue would have taken much lengthier if it wasn’t for support from initially responders and volunteers.

“It was a terrific coordinated work by all involved to get rescuers to the top of Sugarloaf and carrying Mr. Sullivan off the mountain,” Thrasher explained. “We have a great group of persons in Franklin County to make rescue functions like this one particular run sleek.”