Hiker Rescued After Night on Maine’s Tallest Mountain
A young hiker, just 20 years old, had a frightening experience on Maine’s highest mountain, Mount Katahdin. After a challenging hike with a group of six, she lost consciousness on the famous Knife Edge Trail. Thankfully, the Maine Army National Guard helicopter came to her rescue, lifting her to safety. Officials shared this news on Wednesday.
The situation became tense as the hiker’s group reached the 5,269-foot summit of Mount Katahdin around 5:30 p.m. last Saturday. She faced difficulties while trying to cross the Knife Edge trail, and her condition worsened. Kevin Adam, the director of Baxter State Park, explained that the hiker was unable to continue.
Late at night, around 11:30 p.m., a ranger arrived after the group called 911. They found the hiker unconscious, adding to the tension of the situation. The other hikers recounted how the illness struck suddenly on the narrow Knife Edge trail, which has steep drops on both sides. Mathew Lint, a member of North Search and Rescue, was part of the team that climbed the mountain to help.
During the night, eight individuals, including two rangers and six hikers, waited on the rocky trail until daylight. They hunkered down and braved the night while awaiting rescue. Lint and his rescue team also spent the night on the mountain. Later, they guided the remaining five hikers on an 11-hour journey back to the bottom of the mountain.
It was a relief to hear that the distressed hiker was in stable condition in the hospital. She had been airlifted to a Bangor hospital on Sunday morning. Although she was released from the emergency room, her current condition is unknown.
The story ended on a positive note as the hiker was safely rescued, and the rescuers and remaining hikers made their way back down the mountain.