Injured hiker / Middlesex Trail, Hunger Mountain

SMR was called out to help Waterbury BC extricate a subject with a shoulder injury from Hunger Mountain.  SMR was given command of the incident.  Waterbury fielded a hasty team with medical personnel and they located the subject about 1/4 mile beyond the Hunger Mountain/Middlesex Trail intersection.  SMR brought in ATVs and the boggan as far as possible and then hiked up to join the subject who was walking slowly downhill in extreme pain.  The patient’s injury wouldn’t tolerate a litter evacuation so SMR team members provided physical and emotional support to help the patient walk out to the waiting ATVs.  He was delivered by ATV to the trailhead and a friend drove him from there to hospital.

Team Members Responding
Wehse, Clymer, Westervelt, Speer, Millick, Sargent, Richards

Other Agencies Responding

Waterbury BC

Time of Call
13.30 – 20.00

Weather Conditions
Clear, calm, 25 degrees

Injured hiker / Middlesex Trail, Hunger Mountain

Mutual Aid request by Waterbury for an injured hiker on the Middlesex Trail.

A 3-member Hasty team found subject about 1 mile up actual trail (~2 miles from Parking lot). 2 non-associated hikers had found the injured subject and stayed with him until the hasty team arrived.

The subject was assessed and packaged in a hypo bag by the Hasty Team. Litter team arrived within 15 minutes and extraction started 15 minutes after that.

The extraction was smooth and efficient. The subject was delivered to the parking lot without incident. A friend of the subject came to drive him to the hospital.

Team Members Responding
Wehse, Clymer, Westervelt, Speer, Veliko, Millick, Sargent, Richards

Other Agencies Responding

Waterbury BC, Richmond BC, Colchester, Mad River

Time of Call
14.30 – 20.30

Weather Conditions
Clear, calm, 30 degrees

Injured hiker / Hunger Mountain

Mutual aid call to support Waterbury back country team on Hunger Mountain. The subject was descending Hunger Mountain and sustained an ankle injury 1/4m from the trail head. Waterbury’s EMT splinted the injury and she was packaged into their litter. SMR assisted with the litter carry and provided a rope belay on the single steep pitch.

Team Members Responding
Clymer, Van Dyke, Sargent, Richards

Other Agencies Responding

Waterbury BC, Richmond BC

Time of Call
12.30 – 15.00

Weather Conditions
Clear, calm, 70 degrees

Lost hiker / Stowe Pinnacle

A male hiker descending the Pinnacle Trail called 911 for assistance when darkness fell. He did not have a headlamp or flashlight so was unable to continue descending in the dark. SMR deployed a member who assisted the subject to the parking area.

Team Members Responding
Wehse

Other Agencies Responding

Time of Call
19.15 – 19.45

Weather Conditions
Clear, calm, 60 degrees

Injured hiker / Sunset Ridge

SMR was requested for Mutual Aid by Underhill Jericho FD to support a litter carry of an injured hiker on the Sunset Ridge Trail.  The hiker had injured her right ankle and left knee.

UJFD requested SMR support to come in from the top of Mansfield Ridge. SMR offered to bring in the gear to expedite the recovery.  SMR deployed a 2-person hasty team to bring warming materials and be prepared for medical support (initial packaging)

UJFD hasty team (medic) reached subject first and began assessment. SMR’s hasty team arrived shortly thereafter. SMR’s litter team arrived 20 minutes later.

The subject was then packaged and carried out to the Undershill trailhead without further incident. She decided to waive ambulance transport to hospital.

Team Members Responding
Wehse, Clymer, Veliko, Rogers, Sargent, Millick, Richards

Other Agencies Responding

UJFD, Richmond BC, Colchester Tech

Time of Call
16.00 – 22.30

Weather Conditions
Damp, threatening rain, 65 degrees

Stranded hikers / Mt Mansfield ridge

SMR was summoned to the Mansfield Ridge to assist a pair of 63-year old hikers whose hiking expedition ran long and they were afraid of getting caught in the dark.  They had intended to take the Gondola down but backed off the Cliff Trail and opted to stay on the ridge.

SMR sent in a 2-person team to assist the subjects. They were located about 1/2 mile from the Toll Road parking lot in good condition. SMR provided water and the group continued back to the parking lot, walking slowly in the dark/foggy conditions. The hikers were delivered to their car at the base of Stowe (Parking Lot D) without further incident.

Team Members Responding
Govoni, Wehse, Clymer, Rogers, Millick, Richards

Other Agencies Responding

Time of Call
17.15 – 20.00

Weather Conditions
Clear, calm, 75 degrees

Injured hiker / Sterling Pond Shelter

A 63 YO female LT through hiker fell and broke her arm. SMR deployed two ATVs plus Truck 1 up the Spruce work road and a hasty team of three hiked to the patient at the Sterling Pond Shelter. After assessment and splinting, the patient was able to walk to the Truck and was given a ride down Spruce. Patient care was transferred to Stowe EMS.

Team Members Responding
Govoni, Clymer, Speer, McLean Sargent, Millick, Richards

Other Agencies Responding

Stowe EMS

Time of Call
9.45 – 13.15

Weather Conditions
Clear, calm, 75 degrees

Lost hiker / Stowe Pinnacle

SMR was summoned to support the search for a hiker who became lost in the vicinity of the Pinnacle.

SMR was provided a satellite image of subject location with little trail detail. Using local knowledge of the terrain, the SMR hasty team was able to determine that the subject was most likely walking down the Polar Express (unmarked on the image provided) and followed the river/gulley when the stream crossed the trail. Hiker was disoriented due to low light provided by his cell phone.

Hasty team located the hiker about 200′ up from the trail in the river gully that crosses Polar Express. He had hiked about 300′ downhill in the gulley before recognizing he was not on the trail when he called for help.

SMR delivered subject to his car in the Pinnacle Meadow Parking Lot without further incident. no medical care was needed.

Team Members Responding
Govoni, Wehse, Clymer, Westervelt, Sargent, Millick, Rogers, Richards

Other Agencies Responding

Time of Call
19.45 – 20.45

Weather Conditions
Clear, calm, 75 degrees

Injured hiker / Sterling Pond Trail

SMR responded to a mutual aid call to assist Cambridge with the extraction of a 49 YO Female hiker with a lower leg injury. She was approximately .2 of a mile above the Sterling Pond trail head. A SMR team member located the patient and provided care until a medic from Cambridge Rescue arrived to splint the injury.  SMR members brought in the wheeled litter and the patient was packaged and carried down to the ambulance.

Team Members Responding
Govoni, Wehse, Clymer, Speer, Westervelt, Sargent, Millick, Rogers, Richards

Other Agencies Responding

Cambridge FD, Cambridge Rescue

Time of Call
16.45 – 18.15

Weather Conditions
Clear, calm, 75 degrees

Standed hiker / Long Trail – Whiteface Shelter

SMR was called out to respond to a Spot device activation, mutual aid support with Cambridge FD. Coordinates indicted the hiker was on the LT North of Madonna Mountain. CFD deployed a team on ATVs to the top of Madonna and commenced hiking North to find hiker. SMR was deploying a team to go into Whiteface Shelter. Contact was made with hiker that he was safe at Whiteface Shelter and device malfunctioned. Teams recalled from field.

Team Members Responding
Govoni, Wehse, Speer, Clymer, Choularton, Sargent, Millick, Rogers, Richards

Other Agencies Responding

Cambridge FD

Time of Call
18.15 – 20.15

Weather Conditions
Clear, calm, 75 degrees

Stranded hiker / Cottonbrook

911 call by Good Samaritan to help Parkinson’s affected walker on Cotton Brook. Walker takes a daily walk on Cottonbrook and had pushed his limits a bit too far. He tripped and fell into the gulley. bystanders helped him out, and while he was ambulatory, he was exhausted and requested vehicular transportation.

Stowe EMS Squad 1 and SMR arrived on scene and transported subject to awaiting ambulance.

Other SMR responders staged at station in case further help was needed.

Team Members Responding
Wehse, Van Dyke, Millick, Richards

Other Agencies Responding

Stowe EMS, Stowe PD

Time of Call
16.00 – 16.45

Weather Conditions
Clear, calm, 75 degrees

Injured hiker / Sterling Pond Trail

A female hiker sustained injury to her ankle while descending the Sterling Pond Trail. SMR was called to assist Cambridge Fire and EMS in patient extraction.  The patient assessment and initial splinting was done by an EMT from Cambridge and upon SMR’s arrival, a vaccum splint was added and the patient was placed in and packaged in the wheeled litter.  The patient was evacuated to the parking lot where care was transferred to Cambridge EMS.

Team Members Responding
Govoni, Veliko, Clymer, Speer, Sargent, Millick, Raybould, Richards

Other Agencies Responding

CFD, CEMS

Time of Call
14.15 – 17.00

Weather Conditions
Intermittent rain, 75 degrees

Stranded hiker / Long Trail – mutual aid

SMR was called by UJFD for mutual aid support to assist a hiker suffering from dehydration. Patient was located on the LT South of the forehead near the Twin Brooks Campsite. SMR spoke with a member of the hiking party and suggested that the party move back to the campsite and then re-hydrate the patient. SMR team deployed into the field from the Stowe Nordic Center while teams from UJFD and Essex Fire deployed from the Underhill side. When UJFD reached the patient, UJFD continued re-hydrating the patient who was ultimately able to walk out to the trail head. SMR was released prior to reaching the Campsite.

Team Members Responding
Govoni, Clymer, Speer, Millick, Choularton, Richards

Other Agencies Responding

UJFD, EFD

Time of Call
20.00 – 21.30

Weather Conditions
Clear, calm, 75 degrees

Stranded hikers / Hazelton Trail

SMR was summoned to support two hikers who had veered off the Hazelton Trail and found themselves in a ravine without flashlights as it had just turned from dusk to nightfall. A SMR Hasty team member located the hikers while other team members investigated the terrain to determine a safe exit strategy.  They provided headlamps and water and then used a series of short-rope hip belays to help the hikers climb out of the gulley to the trail. The group of SMR rescuers and two hikers then made an easy hike out to the parking lot. SMR gave the hikers a ride back to their car at the base of Hellbrook Trail.

Team Members Responding
Govoni, Wehse, Westervelt, Millick, Choularton, Richards

Other Agencies Responding

Time of Call
20.45 – 23.00

Weather Conditions
Clear, calm, 80 degrees

Injured hiker / Mt Mansfield ridge

Female hiker injured her ankle/lower leg while hiking on Mount Mansfield Ridge. Patient was assessed, splinted and packaged into the wheeled litter for evacuation to the Visitor’s Center parking area. Patient was placed in her vehicle and husband drove her to Copley hospital for further medical evaluation.

Team Members Responding
Govoni, Wehse, Clymer, Westervelt, Speer, Choularton, Millick, Rogers, Richards

Other Agencies Responding

Stowe PD

Time of Call
14.30 – 18.30

Weather Conditions
Clear, thunderstorm approaching, 80 degrees

Injured swimmer / Bingham Falls

SMR was called to Bingham Falls for an individual who fell approximately 60 feet into the lower falls. SMR used the floating litter to transport the patient across the water to the extraction point. The Patient was transferred from the floating litter to the litter with wheel for further extraction with rope systems to get to Route 108. The Patient was delivered to the ambulance for transport to the Mansfield LZ and DHART airlifted to hospital.

Team Members Responding
Govoni, Wehse, Clymer, Westervelt, Speer, Van Dyke, Choularton, Millick, Sargent, Richards

Other Agencies Responding

Stowe EMS, Stowe PD, Stowe FD, Stowe Mountain Resort, DHart

Time of Call
13.30 – 15.30

Weather Conditions
Clear, calm, 80 degrees

Inured biker / Trapps

SMR was summoned to help Stowe EMS extract a Mountain Biker who had suffered an injury.

SMR deployed a team of 6 for the quick litter/wheel extraction. Patient was delivered to an Ambulance and transported to a local hospital.

Team Members Responding
Wehse, Clymer, Westervelt, Choularton, Raybould, Millick, Richards

Other Agencies Responding

Stowe EMS

Time of Call
15.00 – 16.00

Weather Conditions
Clear, calm, 80 degrees

Inured swimmer / Montgomery

SMR responded to a request for mutual aid from Montgomery Fire Dept to assist in the extrication of an individual who had fallen at a swimming hole, losing consciousness and injuring a leg.   SMR’s hasty team determined that the patient would be able to walk out with assistance of a simple rope haul.  The patient was placed in a harness and helmet and was given a rope haul / belay as well as physical support from a SMR member walking alongside.  Patient care was handed to Enosburg Rescue at the roadside.

Team Members Responding
Govoni, Wehse, Clymer, Speer, Sargent, Richards

Other Agencies Responding

Montgomery FD, Enosburg EMS

Time of Call
16.00 – 18.00

Weather Conditions
Intermittent rain, 75 degrees

Lost hiker / Long Trail

SMR assisted a hiker who had lost the trail while hiking down the LongTrail after summiting Mt. Mansfield. The hiker stopped to cool off at a stream crossing, and then proceeded down the stream bed thinking it was the trail. The hiker called 911 after descending for a short while and recognizing his situation.

After locating the subject via GPS coordinates picked up during the 911 call, SMR deployed a team of two to ensure the hiker found the trail and descended safely.

The hiker was able to reach Rt 108 successfully and SMR escorted the hiker to his vehicle.

Team Members Responding
Govoni, Wehse, Clymer

Other Agencies Responding

Time of Call
20.30 – 21.30

Weather Conditions
Clear, calm, 75 degrees

Injured Mountain biker / Cady Hill Forest Trails

SMR responded to a mountain bike injury in Cady Hills / Zog’s Trail.

Neil Van Dyke was first on scene, quickly followed by a hasty team of two SMR rescuers (EMT), one Stowe EMS paramedic, one Police Department (EMT) and one fire department personnel. The Patient was conscious but had a head injury.

SMR sent in an ATV and Boggan for transport. Subject was ambulatory and then transported out via ATV. Stowe EMS further assessed the biker and transported to a local hospital.

Team Members Responding
Wehse, Clymer, Van Dyke, Rogers, Richards

Other Agencies Responding

Stowe PD, Stowe Fire, Stowe EMS

Time of Call
12.00 – 13.30

Weather Conditions
Clear, calm, 75 degrees

Stranded swimmer / Morrisville

SMR was summoned to scene of a woman stuck in a pot-hole under a small waterfall/chute on the Lamoille River in Morrisville.

Upon arrival, Stowe Mtn Rescue began assessing the terrain for a possible high-line / reeve system as a potential extraction mechanism for the subject.

Morrissville PD, Fire and Johnson Firedept (Water Crew) had set up command on scene, provided the subject with a helmet and personal floatation device (life jacket), and stationed 2 kayakers in the main river just below the trapped woman.

Morrisville Electric Co. slowed the water flow through the dam allowing the stream where the woman was stuck to diminish. Once this occurred, a small exit hole emerged from the bottom of the pothole and she was able to climb through to the safety of the kayakers. She was then floated across the river to waiting Emergency Medical Services for assessment.

It is unclear whether she was transported to a local hospital for further evaluation.

Team Members Responding
Govoni, Wehse, Clymer, Speer, Millick, McLean, Sargent, Richards

Other Agencies Responding

Morrisville PD, Fire and EMS, Johnson Fire (Water Rescue), Colchester Technical Rescue

Time of Call
19.00 – 21.00

Weather Conditions
Clear, calm, 75 degrees

Injured hiker / Mt Mansfield

SMR was called to assist a hiker on the Hazelton Trail near the intersection of Nosedive and Rimrocks ski trails. Hiker had an ankle injury and was not able to bear weight. SMR deployed one SMR member in POV up the Toll Road (to the top of Nosedive) and three additional members on ATV’s and rescue boggan up the Gondola maintenance Road/Rimrocks trail to access the patient. Patient was assessed and injury splinted.

Patient was evacuated off the mountain successfully via ATV.

Team Members Responding
Govoni, Wehse, Westervelt, Speer, Richards

Other Agencies Responding

Time of Call
18.15 – 00.00

Weather Conditions
Overcast, calm, 75 degrees

Injured swimmer / Bingham Falls

SMR was summoned to Bingham Falls for the report of a person with a serious leg injury.

An SMR hasty team worked with Stowe EMS to bandage injuries and then SMR, with the help of some bystanders, extracted the patient via litter/wheel to Stowe EMS for transport to hospital.

Team Members Responding
Govoni, Wehse, Westervelt, Choularton, Speer, Sargent, Rogers, Richards

Other Agencies Responding

Stowe EMS, Stowe PD

Time of Call
13.00 – 15.00

Weather Conditions
Overcast, calm, 75 degrees

Lost hiker / Barnes Camp

15 YO female was hiking with her family on the trails around Barnes Camp and got separated from her parents. SMR deployed a team of four to drive up the Sterling work road and VSP Neil Van Dyke went to Barnes Camp where he got information from hikers who testified that the subject was heading up the Long Trail North towards Sterling Pond. Van Dyke hiked up the Sterling Pond Trail and located the subject in the vicinity of Sterling Pond. SMR team made contact and drove the subject down the mountain to be reunited with her family.

Team Members Responding
Govoni, Wehse, Van Dyke, Clymer, Westervelt, Richards

Other Agencies Responding

VSP, SPD

Time of Call
17.45 – 20.30

Weather Conditions
Clear, calm, 75 degrees

Injured hiker / Sunset Ridge Trail, Underhill

SMR was requested for Mutual Aid to assist Underhill Jericho Fire Department rescue an injured hiker on the Sunset Ridge Trail.

The solo hiker had severely injured his knee and could not bear weight. He called 911 for assistance.

Team members from UJFD, Colchester Technical Rescue, Camels Hump Back Country Rescue (Richmond), and Stowe Mountain Rescue supported the event.

The subject was located about 1.2 miles from trailhead. A hasty team from UJFD located the subject and assessed his condition. Litter and packaging was delivered by rescuers.

The event took about 2 hours to extract the hiker to his car for self transport to hospital.

Team Members Responding
Wehse, Clymer, Millick, Richards

Other Agencies Responding

Underhill Jericho Fire Department, Camels Hump Backcountry, Colchester Technical Rescue

Time of Call
19.45 – 23.45

Weather Conditions
Overcast, calm, 75 degrees

Injured mountain biker / Cady Hill

SMR responded to a report of a male mountain bike rider who crashed on Bear’s Trail in Cady Hill Forest in Stowe.

The rider had apparently misjudged a jump which tossed him over the handlebars. A SMR and Stowe EMS hasty team located the rider and assessed his situation while SMR responded with an extraction team on ATV and Boggan.  The decision was made to walk out the subject as he was ambulatory.  He was transferred to Stowe EMS ambulance for transport to a local hospital.

Team Members Responding
Govoni, Wehse, Veliko, Clymer, Raybould, Choularton, Miller, Millick, Richards

Other Agencies Responding

Stowe EMS

Time of Call
11.45 – 12.45

Weather Conditions
Clear, calm, 75 degrees

Injured hiker / Camels Hump

SMR was dispatched for Mutual Aid to support the extraction of an injured hiker on the Bamforth Ridge Trail (Long Trail) on Camel’s hump.

SMR deployed a team of 6 up the Burroughs trail (Huntington) and then down the Bamforth Ridge Trail (Long Trail / North). The subject was located by an Huntington BC Hasty Team and Waterbury BC Hasty team.  She had slipped on very slick, exposed rock on a treacherous section of the trail and fallen about 20ft to the trail below.

She was packaged by the joint team and extracted down the Bamforth Ridge trail. The extraction took just over 6 hours to travel the approximate 5.5 miles to the main parking lot.

The patient was transported to a local hospital.

Team Members Responding
Wehse, Clymer, Speer, Westervelt, Millick, Richards

Other Agencies Responding

Waterbury BC, Richmond BC, Huntington BC, Richmond EMS

Time of Call
17.45 – 06.45

Weather Conditions
Clear, calm, 75 degrees

Injured mountain biker / Cady Hill

SMR responded to a reported mountain bike injury near the power sub station on Cady Hill Road.

The mountain biker had slid off a narrow bridge made extremely slick from the rain. The biker got her ankle caught in the frame during the fall.

Stowe EMS and Stowe PD were first on scene. Stowe EMS immobilized the ankle in a vacuum splint to prepare for extraction.

SMR and Stowe EMS loaded the subject into the litter for a quick extraction to an awaiting ambulance. The subject was transported to Copley Hospital for further evaluation.

Team Members Responding
Govoni, Wehse, Clymer, Speer, Westervelt, Millick, Richards

Other Agencies Responding

Stowe PD, Stowe EMS

Time of Call
12.45 – 13.45

Weather Conditions
Overcast, calm, 75 degrees

Injured hiker / Sterling Pond Trail

SMR was called to assist Cambridge Fire with an evacuation of a 15 yo female who injured her ankle descended the Sterling Ridge Trail. CFD sent in one member to assess the patient and SMR sent in a two member hasty team with splinting and medical supplies. Remaining SMR members carried in the litter and lowering gear. Cambridge Rescue Squad brought in additional medical supplies. CFD sent in manpower.  SMR’s hasty team assessed the patient and splinted the isolated ankle injury. SMR team members arrived with litter and packaged the patient in the litter. Two SMR members were deployed to set up belay/lowering systems. The patient was carried down the trail without incident to the top of the Notch parking lot to the awaiting ambulance. After discussions with EMS and parents, it was determined that the patient would be transported to Copley via POV.

Team Members Responding
Govoni, Wehse, Clymer, Westervelt, Millick, Sargent, Rogers, Richards

Other Agencies Responding

Cambridge Fire Dept, Cambridge Rescue

Time of Call
18.00 – 20.30

Weather Conditions
Clear, calm, 75 degrees

Medivac from Mt Mansfield

Stowe Mountain Rescue was called to rescue a 53 year old male who fell approximately 30′ from a tower on the Mt. Mansfield Ridge behind the WCAX Building.  Stowe EMS was able to drive the ambulance to the tower and Medical Command re-tasked SMR to establish a helicopter landing zone. All SMR resources diverted to the Mansfield base parking lot to establish the LZ. The patient was transported down the toll road by SEMS to the LZ. The helicopter, which came from UVMC, landed without incident and the patient was transferred from the ambulance to the helicopter for onward transport to UVMC.

Team Members Responding
Govoni, Wehse, Clymer, McLean, Millick, Raybould, Richards

Other Agencies Responding

Stowe EMS, Stowe Mountain Resort, UVMC Medivac

Time of Call
15.45 – 17.30

Weather Conditions
Overcast, calm, 75 degrees

Lost Person / Bakersfield

SMR was summoned to Bakersfield, VT, for Mutual Aid to support the local Fire Department and VT State Police locate a missing elderly female.

The subject was last seen around 2:30 in the afternoon in her yard doing chores. Local authorities were summoned mid-afternoon and VSP Search and Rescue Coordinator was notified at 8:30PM. With impending rain and cold weather due by 4AM, VSP extended their request for more search personnel to SMR, Waterbury and Colchester.

SMR arrived at Bakersfield FD at approx 23:15. SMR worked with the Search Coordinator and developed a search grid for SMR and CTR, in alignment with work being accomplished by New England K9 units.

SMR was deployed to search a grid, approximately 1/2 mile north of the subject’s house. Our search grid was in a small drainage.

The lost subject was located just as SMR was deploying into the woods. Subject was found about 100′ into the woods directly adjacent to the property’s manicured lawn. SMR then re-staged at the subject’s house and helped move subject out of her location. The subject was cold but otherwise uninjured and was transported to hospital for further assessment and evaluation.

Team Members Responding
Wehse, Clymer, Millick, Sargent, Richards

Other Agencies Responding

Vermont State Police / VSP SAR Team, Bakersfield Fire, Enosburg Rescue, New England K9, Colchester Technical Rescue, Waterbury Backcountry.

Time of Call
22.15 – 02.30

Weather Conditions
Clear, calm, 70 degrees

Stranded Hikers / Mt Mansfield

SMR was summoned to the aid of a distressed hiker (and partner) on the HellBrook Cut-Off Trail / Long Trail. The hiker succumbed to exhaustion and called for an assist to get off the mountain.

SMR dispatched a team of 5 on ATV to meet up with the hikers at Taft Lodge. Hiker was instructed to drink more water and rest once they reached Taft Lodge. SMR Hasty team delivered more water, electrolytes and food.

SMR then walked the subject down Long Trail to the Easy Out exit to Chin Clip, where he was provided a ride down the mountain on an ATV.

The subjects were delivered to their car without further incident.

Team Members Responding
Wehse, Clymer, Westervelt, Speer, Choularton, Millick, Richards

Other Agencies Responding

Time of Call
16.45 – 19.15

Weather Conditions
Clear, calm, 75 degrees

Injured swimmer / Bingham Falls

SMR was dispatched to Bingham Falls based on a report of a 35 year old male with an ankle injury partway up the trail. (911 caller did not remain with subject, as there was no cell phone coverage where the subject was located).

The injury occurred while swimming in Bingham Falls. The subject tried to walk out before succumbing to the injury (too painful to walk).

SMR’s hasty team found the injured subject near the top of the stairs. The subject was placed in a lower leg/ankle vacuum splint and then into a litter/wheel for extraction to an awaiting ambulance.

Team Members Responding
Wehse, Clymer, Westervelt, Choularton, Rogers, Ruschp, Sargent

Other Agencies Responding

Stowe EMS

Time of Call
15.00 – 16.00

Weather Conditions
Clear, calm, 80 degrees

Injured Mountain biker / Cady Hill

SMR was summoned to aid an injured mountain bike rider in Cady Hill forest, Stowe, VT.

The young rider crashed injuring her right forearm. SMR deployed 2 Medical Hasty team members to the scene and splinted the injured arm. Another 4 members arrived minutes later via ATV/boggan.

The young rider was escorted to an awaiting ambulance for further treatment without incident.

Team Members Responding
Wehse, Speer, Clymer, Westervelt, Millick, Richards

Other Agencies Responding

Stowe EMS and Stowe PD

Time of Call
15.30 – 16.30

Weather Conditions
Clear, calm, 80 degrees

Litter Carry / Munroe Trail, Camels Hump

SMR was summoned via Mutual Aid to support a hiker on the Monroe Trail (Camel’s Hump) who was in distress and needed medical attention and could not walk.

SMR sent 4 rescue team personnel to support the extraction. Waterbury had sent in a hasty team of two with medical personnel, and SMR followed with the litter/wheel.

By the time SMR had reached the subject, he was feeling better and had begun to walk back down the trail. More rescue members arrived from Waterbury, Huntington and Colchester Technical Rescue. With just over a mile remaining to the Parking Lot, the hiker’s condition worsened and he was loaded into the litter and extracted to a waiting ambulance.

Team Members Responding
Wehse, Speer, Clymer, Richards

Other Agencies Responding

Waterbury and Huntington Backcountry, Camels Hump Backcountry, Colchester Technical Rescue

Time of Call
15.45 – 21.00

Weather Conditions
Clear, calm, 80 degrees

Litter Carry / Bamforth Ridge Trail

SMR was summoned through Mutual Aid perform a litter carry of an injured hiker off the Bamforth Ridge Trail (Long Trail./Camel’s Hump).

The female hiker injured her ankle Tuesday evening while hiking on the Bamforth Ridge Trail. She hobbled a quarter mile to the Bamforth Ridge Shelter and rested overnight. The hiker’s family called for an extraction on Wednesday morning when the hiker determined she could not bear weight on her ankle.

Waterbury / Huntington BackCountry Team’s led the mission. Stowe Mountain Rescue provided technical assistance for litter carry and litter lowers (belays) on steep segments.

Richmond Backcountry, Green Mountain Valley BC and Colchester technical Rescue all supported the mission.

Team Members Responding
Wehse, Clymer, Millick

Other Agencies Responding

Waterbury / Huntington Backcountry, Richmond Backcountry, Green Mountain Valley Backcountry, Colchester Technical Rescue

Time of Call
08.00 – 14.00

Weather Conditions
Clear, calm, 80 degrees

Injured Mountain biker / Cady Hill

Stowe Mountain Rescue responded to the report of a female mountain biker injured on Bears Trail in Cady Hill Trails System Stowe.

SMR deployed a two member hasty team to locate and assess patient condition and transport mechanism. Stowe EMS sent in a medic to begin packaging the patient while the rest of the SMR team arrived and assembled the litter / wheel system and deployed to scene of bike accident. Patient was packaged in litter and extracted to awaiting ambulance without incident.

Team Members Responding
Govoni, Wehse, Westervelt, Choularton, Millick, Raybould, Burke, Richards

Other Agencies Responding

Stowe EMS

Time of Call
12.15 – 13.30

Weather Conditions
Clear, calm, 75 degrees

Water Rescue / Lake Elmore – cancelled call

Stowe Mountain Rescue was called to assist Elmore Fire Department with locating 6 people who had been canoeing in Lake Elmore when their boat capsized. Response by SMR was in progress when the call was cancelled by Elmore Fire as all subjects had reached land and were headed to the Elmore fire station to get warm.

Team Members Responding
Govoni, Wehse, Clymer, Speer, Westervelt, Rogers, Choularton, Millick, Raybould, Richards

Other Agencies Responding

Elmore Fire Department

Time of Call
01.00 – 01.15

Weather Conditions
Clear, calm, 54 degrees

Water Rescue / Bolton

Stowe Mountain Rescue (SMR) was dispatched via Mutual Aid to assist Colchester Technical Rescue (CTR) and Bolton Fire Department rescue a man stranded on a rock in the middle of Joiner Brook in Bolton.   The subject was walking his dog near the brook, which was swollen from rain and snow melt, on Friday afternoon, when his dog entered the water and was immediately swept away.  The man jumped in to try to save the dog and was also swept away.   After traveling about 100’ downriver, the man was able to climb up on a rock in the middle of the river just above the falls in the gorge.

CTC and SMR were assigned the technical part of the rescue.   SMR was tasked to execute all technical rope work and CTR would handle the boat/water operation.   SMR set up a twin-tension highline spanning the river (approx 140 ft), along with a suspended trolley and guy lines for left/right maneuver of the rescue boat.    A 17’ semi-rigid inflatable boat was rigged to the high line system and controlled by the guy lines manned on each side of the river.   A CTR rescue technician was then secured to the boat for the rescue operation.    SMR managed the execution of the boat operation, moving the boat out into the river and to the subject’s location.   The subject was then assisted into the boat and back to shore.

Team Members Responding
Govoni, Wehse, Clymer, Speer, Westervelt, Rogers, Choularton, Millick, Raybould, Richards

Other Agencies Responding

Colchester Technical Rescue, Bolton Fire, Richmond Fire

Time of Call
13.45 – 1800

Weather Conditions
Rainy,  32 deg F

Stranded Hikers / Smuggler’s Notch

Team Members Responding
Wehse, Westervelt, Ruschp, Richards

Other Agencies Responding

Time of Call
17.15 – 19.45

Weather Conditions
Clear, Calm,  32 deg F

Injured climber / Smugglers Notch

Stowe Mountain Rescue was called the Notch to rescue a climber who had been hit in the head and knee with falling ice.  The climber was at the bottom of Elephant’s head gully racking up and had not commenced climbing when he was hit by ice dislodged by a climbing party above him.  Personnel from another climbing party with medical training secured the injured climber, provided food, extra clothing and applied a rudimentary splint.

Team Members Responding
Govoni, Wehse, Clymer, Westervelt, Millick, Choularton, Richards

Other Agencies Responding
Stowe Mountain Resort Ski Patrol, Cambridge FD, Cambridge Rescue Squad

Time of Call
10.59 – 15.00

Weather Conditions
Overcast, Calm,  20 deg F

Lost Skier / Mansfield

Stowe Mountain Rescue (SMR) was called out to search for a lost skier on the Mansfield side of Stowe Mountain Resort. The subject had been skiing with her father in the Toll Roads Woods, became separated while skiing the side country off the Toll Road below the Lookout Double chairlift. The lost skier called multiple times into Mansfield Ski Patrol, but poor cell reception and a low battery hampered a successful call to determine the subjects whereabouts. Initial discussion with subject’s father narrowed the search area. The search area was determined to be the large gully below the Toll Road that drains towards the Mansfield Touring Center.

Stowe Mountain Rescue, VT State Police and Mansfield Ski Patrol convened via conference call to discuss situation and develop a search plan. Two SMR team members rode the Lookout Double and began a confinement search along the Toll Road trail starting at the Lookout Double. A second team was assigned to search the middle section of the search area by departing the Toll Road just above the Chapel and following the earth counter toward the top of John’s Road (typical exit point for skiers in this area). A Third team was stationed at the touring center’s Bear Run Trail in case the skier exited the gully quickly before search teams located her. Two search teams on ATVs were also deployed in to the top of Mansfield Touring Center towards and up John’s Road .

The subject was discovered walking down Toll Road by Mansfield Ski Patrol at about 4:45pm. Apparently, she recognized that retracing her path by walking uphill was her best option. This was a very good decision and resulted in her safely self rescuing. The subject was then transported to a very relieved family member without further incident.

Team Members Responding
Govoni, Wehse, Van Dyke, Clymer, Westervelt, Speer, Millick, Choularton,  Rogers, Raybould, Richards

Other Agencies Responding
Stowe Mountain Resort Ski Patrol, VSP – car 96

Time of Call
15.00 – 18.00

Weather Conditions
Overcast, Calm,  25 deg F

Injured Snowmobiler / Cottonbrook

Stowe Mountain Rescue was called out to the CottonBrook Recreation area to support extraction of an injured snowmobiler. SMR sent a team of 5 via ATV and Snowmobile to the accident scene, which was located about 2 miles from the main parking area on the side trail that parallels the main CottonBrook road.

Upon arrival, Stowe EMS has already prepped the patient for extraction. SMR quickly packaged the injured patient in the litter and then transported back to waiting ambulance at the Parking Lot.

Team Members Responding
Govoni, Wehse, Westervelt, Speer, Burke, Choularton,  Raybould, Richards

Other Agencies Responding
Stowe EMS, VSP

Time of Call
18.00 – 19.30

Weather Conditions
Overcast, Calm,  26 deg F

Stranded Skier or Snowboarder / Smugglers Notch

Stowe Mountain Rescue was dispatched to Smugglers Notch recreation area based on a bystander report of a stranded skier/snowboarder. The bystander walking on Route 108 noticed a person who appeared to be stuck on a precipice over an ice field. After the person did not move for about 10 minutes, the bystander waved. The subject returned the wave. Fearing the person needed assistance, the bystander called 911.

SMR deployed a team of 7 into the Notch to locate and rescue the subject. Upon arrival, the SMR team met the Cambridge Fire/Rescue team who had been looking for the subject for 15 minutes. Both teams continued searching from the road, looking for a subject in distress with no luck. Skiers coming off the piste were questioned to assess whether they had seen/heard any calls for help or bumped into anyone seeking assistance. One pair of snowboarders did indicate they had seen a skier being lowered down an ice pitch but did not have first-hand knowledge of the situation.

SMR deployed a team of 3 up one of the gullies in an attempt to locate the subject near original reported position. The Team discovered a pair of ice climbers on skis who had been climbing in the general vicinity of the initial report; these climbers had been skiing above an ice pitch in a high gulley but did not assist anyone.

The Rescue Team continued to search the cliff area and found no other climbers or signals of distress. The Rescue team staged on the Notch Road continued observation/interviews with no compelling signs/reports of a distressed skier. SMR, based upon its searches, field evidence, the fact that no one had called 911 for assistance and interviews with persons in the Notch determined that the mission was a false alarm and closed out the mission.

Team Members Responding
Govoni, Westervelt, Speer, Ruschp, Burke, Wehse, Warren, Clymer,  Richards

Other Agencies Responding
Cambridge Fire and Rescue

Time of Call
13.45 – 17.15

Weather Conditions
Overcast, Calm,  15 deg F

Stranded Skier / Smugglers Notch

Lamoille County Dispatch toned Stowe Mountain Rescue. Apparently, a Stowe Mountain Resort guest called 911 after becoming disoriented while skiing an off-piste section of the Notch. The lone skier was skiing the Spruce Peak area of Stowe Mountain Resort and found his way down the out-of-bounds terrain called Tusk. He became unsure of his location after skiing for a while in unfamiliar terrain. Upon conferring with his father via phone, the subject called 911 for help. Stowe Mountain Rescue dispatched 3 rescue technicians from the first call to an area near the skier based on GPS coordinates picked up from the 911 call. Voice contact was made instantly and after a bit of coaching, the skier was able to self evacuate by skiing down the last bit of steep terrain without assistance.

Team Members Responding
Govoni, Westervelt, Speer, Ruschp, Burke, Wehse, Warren, Clymer,  Richards

Other Agencies Responding
Cambridge Fire and Rescue

Time of Call
1500 – 1600

Weather Conditions
Overcast, Calm,  15 deg F

Stranded Skier / Birthday Bowls – Smugglers Notch

Stowe Mountain Rescue rescued a 25 year old female skier from the Birthday Bowl area in Smugglers Notch on Friday. At around 1820 SMR was informed that there was a lost skier somewhere on Spruce Peak. The subject called 911 when she got stuck on the top of a cliff and realized that she was lost. It was determined, from the subject’s cell phone coordinates that she was approximately 300 vertical feet above the VT 108 in the Notch near the “Workout Wall” ice climbing area and near the “Birthday Bowls”. SMR staged at Barnes Camp and deployed the Team into the Notch. Four team members climbed up to the subject and she was lowered and short roped down to the road. She was then evacuated to Barnes Camp.

Team Members Responding
Govoni, Westervelt, Speer, McLean, Wehse, Clymer, Millick,  Rogers, Choularton, Reybould, Richards

Other Agencies Responding
VT State Police / Car 96

Time of Call
130 – 1930

Weather Conditions
Overcast, Calm,  0 deg F

Lost Snowboarders / Stowe Mountain Resort – Ranch Valley

Stowe Mountain Rescue rescued three lost snowboarders on Saturday night.  At around 1700 hours, Vermont State Police contacted SMR regarding three teenagers.  Stowe Ski Patrol indicated that they had boarded out of bounds from the Toll Road.  SMR determined by their cell phone location that they were approximately 60 vertical feet from the intersection of John’s Road and Easy Out at the Mount Mansfield Touring Center.  Cell phone contact with the subjects indicated that they had no light source, map compass or other means of navigation. SMR staged at the Touring Center and deployed personnel on ATVs and Snowmachines toward the location of the lost boarders.  Upon arriving at the intersection, two members navigated by snowshoes towards the cell phone coordinates.  Shortly thereafter, voice contact was made and then physical contact was made with the lost subjects.  They were uninjured but cold.   They were provided water, food and extra clothing and then were evacuated to the Touring Center and united with their families.

Team Members Responding
Govoni, Westervelt, Speer, Clymer, Millick,  Rogers, Richards

Other Agencies Responding
None.

Time of Call
1700 – 1930

Weather Conditions
Overcast, Calm, Scattered Snow showers, 10 deg F

Lost Hikers / Mount Mansfield

Stowe Mountain Rescue was called to assist a party of 4 hikers up on Mt. Mansfield.   The initial report indicated that three subjects were unsure of their current location and their 4th member’s location was unknown as they had not had contact with him for many hours.

The party of four had parked in the Barnes Camp Parking Lot with intent to hike up Hellbrook trail to the Mansfield Chin and return via the Long Trail.  One member of the team hiked aggressively and soon outpaced the other three.   At around 5:40 PM, the party of three called 911 for support, as they had not reached the summit (Chin), were unsure of their location, were cold and wet, and more importantly had not had contact with the 4th member of the team in quite some time.

SMR responded with a team of 8 with an initial plan to locate the 3 hikers based on an initial Lat/Long coordinates and develop a search plan for the 4th member of the party.   SMR Staged at Midway Lodge and received a ride up to the top of the Gondola via a ‘bus’ snowcat provided by Stowe-Vail, Inc.   Prior to departure up to the top of the Gondola, the 4th member of the team was located at the bottom of Stowe; he had hiked back down safely without conversing with his hiking party.

SMR’s plan to retrieve the party of three was to take the bootpack up from the Gondola station then traverse below the Chin via ‘High Traverse’ trail to the junction of High Traverse, HellBrook and Long Trail   The High Traverse  proved slow going, as SMR had to break trail through deep snow and heavy underbrush (typical use is in mid winter where the snowpack covers much of the low shrubbery).   SMR team decided to alter course and head down Profanity to the intersection of LongTrail, and gave the lost subjects instructions to take the Long Trail South towards the Taft Lodge where parties would meet.  Upon reaching Long Trail, SMR located the subjects immediately, assessed condition and proceeded down Long Trail to exit on Cliff Trail and an awaiting BusCat for a ride to the bottom.    Subjects were reunited with their 4th member by about 9:30 PM.

Team Members Responding
Wehse, Westervelt, Clymer, Millick, Rogers, Richards, Chegwidden

Other Agencies Responding
None.

Time of Call
1800 – 2130

Weather Conditions
Overcast, Calm, 10 deg F