Stranded canoeists on river

A father and son were canoeing on the Winooski River in Middlesex. When the water became swift and turbulent, they beached their canoe on a large island to survey the water conditions ahead. They determined it would be unsafe to continue downstream and would be unable to gain either shore without being caught by the current.

Stowe Mountain Rescue established downstream safety teams and a boat was launched upstream of the island. The boat crew located the men, who were uninjured but cold. They were shuttled one at a time to awaiting shore crews, and their canoe was then recovered.

Team Members Responding
Govoni, Miller, Reinhardt, Speer, Van Dyke, Veliko

Other Agencies Responding
Waterbury Fire Dept, Vermont State Police, Colchester Technical Rescue

Time of Call
16:00 – 18:35

Weather Conditions
Clear

Capsized canoe on Winooski

A family of 4 was canoeing on the Winooski River in Bolton, just upstream of the railroad bridge. They were attempting to run class 2 rapids and capsized the boat. The father and dog made it to shore, but the mother and two children were stranded on a large rock in the center of the river.

Stowe Mountain Rescue worked with several other teams to rescue them from the rock. Down stream safety teams were established on both sides of the river and a boat was launched to rescue the stranded subjects, manned by Colchester Technical Rescue. The rescue was uneventful and all subjects were reunited without incident. The party of 3 was evaluated by Richmond Rescue.

Team Members Responding
Couper, Govoni, Ruschp, Speer, Veliko

Other Agencies Responding
Colchester Technical Rescue, Richmond Fire, Richmond Rescue and VT State Police

Time of Call
13:00 – 15:45

Weather Conditions
Warm and clear

Lost hikers on Long Trail

A party of 3 was hiking from Underhill State Park over the chin and down the Long Trail to route 108 when they became overtaken by darkness without headlamps. They had started hiking at 2:40 PM and hiked up the Laura Cowles trail to summit of Mt Mansfield, continuing down the Long Trail north toward Route 108. The party called 911 at 8:30 PM as darkness was approaching and were instructed to continue north (downhill) toward Route 108.

Two members of Stowe Mountain Rescue hiked up the trail to meet the subjects and provide lighting. They located the hikers, who were in good health, but very fatigued. They were provided with food, water, and headlamps, and were escorted down the trail and delivered to their vehicle.

Team Members Responding
Couper, Speer

Other Agencies Responding
none

Time of Call
20:45 – 00:15

Weather Conditions
Clear

Lost family of hikers on Spruce Peak

A family of five became stranded on the Long Trail north (otherwise known as Elephant’s Head Trail) by darkness without headlamps. They were unsure of their location and after a cell phone interview it was determined they were at the junction of the Elephant’s Head Vista Trail and the Long Trail. With the remaining 45 minutes of daylight, they were instructed to continue north on the Long Trail to its intersection with Snuffies Trail, then continue to the Spruce Peak Resort and the Sensation Quad. They were successful at reaching the Sensation Quad as darkness overtook the party.

Stowe Mountain Rescue dispatched an ATV and pick-up truck up the Spruce Peak work road to the top of the Sensation Quad where the met the stranded party. The team provided warm clothing and transportation back to the family’s vehicle. Their intended hike was Bingham Falls. They incorrectly parked at Barns Camp, hiked the link trail that is being developed between Barns Camp and the Long Trail north and continued north on the Long Trail. Their hike took them almost five hours without the appropriate food, water, clothing or footwear for such a hike.

Team Members Responding
Govoni, Miller, Reinhardt, Rogers, Ruschp, Van Dyke, Veliko

Other Agencies Responding
none

Time of Call
20:30 – 22:45

Weather Conditions
Foggy and windy

Ankle injury on Long Trail

A 29 year old woman called for rescue due to a a non-weight bearing ankle injury on the Long Trail north out of Smuggler’s Notch (old Elephants Head Trail). The party was well prepared/equipped and attempted a self evacuation, but due to the nature of her injury and the technical nature of the trail, a self-evacuation was not possible. A team of two was assigned to locate the subject and immobilize her injury while the balance of the team brought in the equipment. The woman was treated for her injury and evacuated by litter and wheel. The terrain required multiple rope system raises and lowers to facilitate the evacuation. Assistance was provided by Colchester Technical rescue and Essex Back-Country Rescue.

Additional personnel were added to the search, and the search continued into the night. Colchester Technical Rescue was released at 1 AM on Sunday and Stowe Mountain Rescue was released at 4 AM for much-needed rest, with plans to assist in the next operational period. Around 7 AM, the missing child came out on Old County Road, approximately 0.3 miles from his camp and was headed home when he was spotted by a search team. The child was fine and simply stated that it got dark and that he needed to spend the night in the woods.

Team Members Responding
Couper, Govoni, Miller, Reinhardt, Ruschp, Veliko, Westervelt

Other Agencies Responding
Colchester Technical Rescue, Essex Backcountry Rescue

Time of Call
12:00 – 17:45

Weather Conditions
Clear and sunny

Missing child in Nebraska Valley

An 11 year old child with Down’s Syndrome went missing from his family’s camp on Old County Road in Nebraska Valley. He had been last seen at 4:30 PM in the area of the camp. The family called 911 at approximately 5:30 PM and Stowe Police Department and Stowe Mountain Rescue responded, with assistance from Colchester Technical Rescue. Vermont State Police Search And Rescue was requested immediately, as was a local Game Warden with a search dog.

The parents were interviewed and the child was wearing only shorts and a tee shirt. With the weather forecast of temperatures in the 30’s the search urgency was high. A scent article from the missing child was provided to the search dog, who set off to search the area. Unfortunately, the search dog was unable to locate a scent trail and ground search teams were tasked with searching high priority areas. His parents explained that he was likely to be near water, so teams first searched ponds and streams, in addition to conducting an ATV search along roads, but all attempts were unsuccessful.

Additional personnel were added to the search, and the search continued into the night. Colchester Technical Rescue was released at 1 AM on Sunday and Stowe Mountain Rescue was released at 4 AM for much-needed rest, with plans to assist in the next operational period. Around 7 AM, the missing child came out on Old County Road, approximately 0.3 miles from his camp and was headed home when he was spotted by a search team. The child was fine and simply stated that it got dark and that he needed to spend the night in the woods.

Team Members Responding
Couper, Reinhardt, Ruschp, Veliko, Westervelt

Other Agencies Responding
Colchester Technical Rescue, Essex Backcountry Rescue, Vermont Fish & Wildlife, Vermont State Police

Time of Call
17:45 – 04:00

Weather Conditions
Cool and clear

Lost skier in Ranch Valley

A 14 years old boy left the Toll Road at Stowe Mountain Resort and became lost alone in Ranch Valley. He called his mother, who alerted Mt Mansfield Ski Patrol. Patrol then alerted Stowe Mountain Rescue, who contacted his cell phone and instructed him to call 911 to obtain the phones coordinates. He was located by 911 in the Ranch Valley north of the Bruce Trail, South of John’s Road and west of Bear Run.

Stowe Mountain Rescue instructed the boy to continue down the drainage a short distance until he intersected the Bear Run Trail. A Stowe Mountain Resort employee who was grooming cross country trails in the area was contacted and requested to pick up the boy. He was located and returned to the touring center uninjured.

Team Members Responding
Reinhardt, Rogers, Speer, Veliko

Other Agencies Responding
Stowe Police Dept

Time of Call
10:00 – 11:15

Weather Conditions
Cool and sunny

Lost skier in Cottonbrook

A female back-country solo skier became disoriented and lost while skiing in Michigan Valley. She called 911 requesting assistance as it was dark and she was unaware of her location and did not have a head lamp. She had been skiing on and around the Catamount Trail in Michigan Valley. The woman stated she had followed some ski tracks, but was unable to provide information beyond that she was on a road that rolled up and down hill and that she was unsure of what direction to travel. Several 911 call attempts to locate her finally placed her on the Cottonbrook road near the “hay lean-to” and the VAST trail intersection. Stowe Mountain Rescue dispatched 2 snowmobiles to that location, she was located and found to be in good shape and not requiring any medical treatment. She was given a ride to the trailhead on snowmobile and was given a ride to her vehicle by Vermont State Police.

Team Members Responding
Miller, Rogers, Speer, Van Dyke, Veliko, Westervelt

Other Agencies Responding
Vermont State Police

Time of Call
18:45 – 20:15

Weather Conditions
Cold and clear

Missing woman near Colchester Pond

Stowe Mountain Rescue was called out to assist Colchester Technical Rescue in the town of Colchester with a hypothermic subject who was missing near Colchester Pond.  The subject was located by a Colchester Police K9 unit and Vermont Fish & Wildlife Warden while Stowe Mountain Rescue was on route.  Team members deployed across the frozen pond with tracked ATV and Rescue Boggin. Across the far end of Colchester Pond, Stowe Mountain Rescue team members, along with Colchester Technical Rescue, met up with rescuers caring for the patient. The subject was stabilized by paramedics and placed in a hypothermia wrap.  She was then brought out of the woods in a sled, first on foot and then behind an ATV once rescuers reached the pond. The subject was then transported to UVM Medical Center via ambulance.

Team Members Responding
Couper, Rogers, Westervelt

Other Agencies Responding
Vermont Fish & Wildlife Dept, Colchester Technical Rescue, Colchester Police Department, Essex Backcountry Rescue

Time of Call
17:15-22:30

Weather Conditions
Cold and snowy

Stranded dog in a gorge near Beaver Meadows road

Morrisville Fire Dept (MFD) unsure if a technical rescue would be required to extricate the dog. MFD found a non-technical route to extricate the dog. SMR stood by in quarters until all personnel were clear. No response required.

Team Members Responding
Govoni, Miller, Speer, Stewart, Veliko

Other Agencies Responding
Morrisville Fire Dept

Time of Call
13:00-14:15

Weather Conditions
n/a

Two subjects hiking to Beaver Meadow Lodge have difficulties

Subjects reportedly having difficulty locating the Lodge and then their call dropped. Stowe Mountain Rescue was contacted Vermont State Police.  A team of five was dispatched to the Lodge to verify the well fair of the two subjects. ATV/snow machines were used to access the lower section of the trail and then the team traveled by snowshoes to the Lodge. The subjects were in the Lodge and did not require any assistance. The team returned to base without incident.

Team Members Responding
Fallahian, Govoni, Reinhardt, Van Dyke, Veliko, Westervelt

Other Agencies Responding
None

Time of Call
6:30-10:45

Weather Conditions
n/a