Injured Hiker (Bingham Falls)

A 23-year-old female was hiking at Bingham Falls, slipped off a boulder, fell ~10 feet landing between two boulders near the base of the falls.

The patient complained of lower back pain and was evaluated by Stowe Rescue. She was moved from between the boulders with a scoop stretcher, transferred to a Stokes litter and secured with a vacuum mattress. Several raise systems and litter passes were required to evacuate the subject. The patient was delivered to Stowe Rescue without incident.

Team Members Responding
Veliko, Reinhardt, Speer, Rogers Burke, Raybould,

Other Agencies Responding
Stowe Rescue

Time of Call
16:30 – 18:30

Weather Conditions
Clear, Calm, 60 deg F

Lost Hiker (Wallface Mountain, Adirondack State Park, NY)

New York State (NYS) Forest Rangers requested assistance with a missing subject last seen at the base of Wallface Mountain in the Adirondacks (near Newcomb, NY). The subject was reported missing a week prior and an intensive search effort had been unsuccessful.

Stowe Mountain Rescue (SMR) was requested to perform a three-day search, utilizing a back-country base camp established by the Rangers at Scott Pond.

SMR and NYS Forest Rangers were flown to the summit of Wallface Mountain by helicopter and overnight gear/food was dropped at Scott Pond.

The missing subject had set up a camp on the summit. SMR was tasked with performing a grid search of the dense woods just north of the summit. The first day of searching was unsuccessful and the team descended to Scott Pond Base Camp for the night.

The search team left the Scott Pond Base Camp on day two with instructions to grid search the north west shoulder of Wallface Mountain. By mid-day another search team had located the subject east of the summit in a Wallface Pond drainage. The subject was deceased.

At that point, the SMR team was instructed to return to Scott Pond Base Camp for a helicopter extraction.

Team Members Responding
Veliko, VanDyke, Westervelt, Eykelhoff, Ruschp, Wehse, Millick

Other Agencies Responding
NYS Forest Rangers
Other NY/NJ SAR Agencies

Time of Call
Start: 9/17 5PM
End: 9/18 6:30 PM

Weather Conditions
Clear, Calm, 45-80 deg F

Stranded Hiker (Mount Hunger/Hogback Mountain)

A hiker on Hunger Mountain inadvertently turned north on the Skyline Trail rather than descending the main Hunger Mountain trail to the Middlesex trail head. He hiked passed the intersection with Hogback, continuing north toward Worcester. The subject called 911 once he realized he would not make it out before dark as he did not have a head lamp.

After a phone interview, it was determined he was about a mile south of Worcester Mountain and he was instructed to continue north until darkness prevented safe travel.

Stowe Mountain Rescue (SMR) & VT State Police (VSP) Search and Rescue (SAR) deployed a team of two to locate and assist the hiker out to the Worcester Trail head. VSP SAR Team Leader established Incident Command (IC) at the Worcester trail head and deployed an additional team of two from Waterbury Back-Country Rescue in case additional assistance was required.

The subject was located about a 1/2 mile south of Worcester Mt summit. He was in good condition, cold, hungry & thirsty. He was provided additional clothing, food, water and a headlamp and was able to hike out without further assistance.

Team Members Responding
Warren

Other Agencies Responding
VT State Police
Waterbury Back-Country (Standby)

Time of Call
Start: 9/16 7PM
End: 9/17 1AM

Weather Conditions
Clear, Calm, 45 deg F

Injured Hiker (Clara Bow Trail/Nebraska Notch)

A female subject was hiking on the Clara Bow trail in Nebraska Notch where she turned her ankle, hearing a snapping noise. She attempted to walk with assistance, but was unable to bear weight on the injury.

Her ankle was immobilized with a vacuum splint and evacuated by litter & wheel without incident.

Team Members Responding
Speer, Rogers, Wehse, Raybold, Millick

Other Agencies Responding
Stowe Rescue
Colchester Technical Rescue
Camel’s Hump Back-Country Rescue
Waterbury Back-Country Rescue

Time of Call
13:00 – 18:15

Weather Conditions
Clear, Calm, 70 deg F

VSP Search (Winooski River)

Stowe Mountain Rescue assisted VT State Police (VSP) Search and Rescue (SAR) with a search of the Winooski River for a missing Plainfield woman who has been missing since February 2017.

SMR Members supported 2 teams covering approximately 10 miles of the river by boat and on foot; each team had a K9 Scent Dog and Handler. The search was unsuccessful.

Team Members Responding
Speer, Rogers, Wehse, Raybold, Millick

Other Agencies Responding
VT State Police
Colchester Technical Rescue
New England K9

Time of Call
08:00 – 13:30

Weather Conditions
Clear, Calm, 70 deg F

Injured Hiker (Butler Logde / Mt. Mansfield)

A 59 year-old male was reported to be at Butler Lodge on Mt Mansfield with a head and neck injury.

The subject was hiking on the Wampahoofus Trail, lost his footing while scrambling through the boulders, striking his head and injuring his neck. He managed to walk back down to Butler Lodge with significant neck pain.

The response team made up of Stowe Mountain Rescue, Underhill/Jericho Fire Dept., Colchester Technical Rescue and Waterbury Back-country rescue accessed the patient from the top of the Toll Road, hiking down the Long Trail south to the Forehead, then down Maple Ridge to the Wampahoofus Trail to Butler Lodge.

The patient was found outside the lodge being cared for by the Green Mountain Club (GMC) caretaker; he was in a sleeping bag and in moderate pain when stationary, but complained of intense pain with any movement.

The patient was immobilized with a cervical collar & vacuum mattress and evacuated with a litter and wheel down the Butler Lodge Trail to Stevensville. Several low angle lowering systems were required to execute the litter carry. He was transferred to Essex Rescue for transportation to UVM MC.

Team Members Responding
Veliko, Govoni, Westervelt, Wehse

Other Agencies Responding
Underhill/Jericho Fire Dept.
Colchester Technical Rescue
Camel’s Hump Back-Country Rescue
Waterbury Back-Country Rescue

Time of Call
1900 – 0300

Weather Conditions
Clear, Calm, 50 deg F

Injured Hiker (Banforth Ridge/Camel’s Hump)

Camel’s Hump Back-Country Rescue (CHBCR) requested assistance from Stowe Mtn Rescue (SMR) with a 70 year-old male with a knee injury. The subject was through hiking the Long Trail (north – south) and injured his right knee while hiking up the Bamforth Ridge on Camel’s Hump. He called 911 requesting assistance as he was unable to bear weight on the injured knee. He was located at ~2800′ on the Long Trail (LT) just below the intersection with the Alpine Trail. This is a very difficult spot with no quick access.

A hasty team from CHBCR located the patient and immobilized his injury. The SMR responders brought in the required litter components/extraction equipment.

The subject was accessed via the Burrows Trail to the Hut Clearing, then the LT north to the top of the Bamforth Ridge. With significant assistance the subject was able to walk out to the Burrows Trail Parking Lot, about 3.1 miles. The patient transferred to Richmond Rescue for transportation to UVM MC.

Team Members Responding
Veliko, Westervelt, Wehse

Other Agencies Responding
Camel’s Hump Back-Country Rescue
Waterbury Back-Country Rescue

Time of Call
1200 – 19:30

Weather Conditions
Clear, Calm, 70 deg F

Ill Hiker on Long Trail

Camel’s Hump Back-Country Rescue (CHBCR) requested assistance from Stowe Mountain Rescue (SMR), Cambridge Technical Rescue (CTR) and Waterbury Back-Country Rescue (WBCR) for a male subject experiencing a medical emergency at Puffer Lodge on the Long Trail.

Resources were requested to stage at Bolton Valley Ski Resort for a litter carry. Ingress Route: use ATV and UTV to Bryant Camp, then travel on foot up Birch Loop, Raven’s Wind, Long Trail North. (Total Route was approximately 2 miles with 1600 feet elevation gain on difficult trails).

After a discussion with Incident Commander, 2 SMR team members were diverted to Michigan Valley / Catamount Trail. Their job was to scout a potential alternate extraction route from Puffer Lodge. This team used ATVs to access a point approximately 0.7 miles below Puffer Lodge at an elevation of about 2000 feet. The balance of the response teams proceeded to Bolton Valley Resort as directed.

The subject was with a college group on an organized multi-day hike as part of the school’s Freshman orientation program. The subject had started feeling ill on Friday night and by Saturday morning he was light headed, dizzy, experiencing nausea and unable to stand or walk short distances unassisted. It was at this point that the college group leader summoned medical and extraction assistance.

A 4-member Hasty Team from CHBCR was fielded with medical gear just prior to SMR Team arrival at Bolton. SMR and CTR immediately fielded a six-member Litter Team to transport the litter/wheel system, bivvy sack and trail rope system. Another 3-member team from CTR and WBCR followed for manpower support, bringing the total response to 15 rescuers from the four agencies.

The Hasty Team reached Puffer Lodge as the Litter Team reached the summit of Bolton, trialing by only 10 minutes. The Hasty Team Medical Officer determined the patient was likely ill, compounded by dehydration and fatigue from the prior 2 days of hiking. The patient was given food, water and electrolytes. After about an hour the patient was able to walk without assistance.

The 2-member SMR team traveling in from Michigan Valley/Catamount trail had scouted excellent bushwhack track that would provide a difficult, but easier extraction route for the subject and the rest of the College group. This required bushwacking down moderate terrain approximately 0.8 miles to the Catamount Trail where the SMR ATVs were parked. The patient and the college group’s backpacks were transported down to the Michigan Valley parking lot via ATV; the remainder of the College Group and Rescue Teams hiked out the Catamount Trail. The patient was assessed and released by Stowe Rescue.

Team Members Responding
VanDyke, Veliko, Westervelt, Miller, Mclean, Wehse

Other Agencies Responding
Camel’s Hump Back-Country Rescue
Cambridge Technical Rescue
Waterbury Back-Country Rescue

Time of Call
0730 – 1530

Weather Conditions
Overcast, Humid, Calm, 75 deg F

Injured Hiker (Sterling Pond Trail)

Stowe Mountain Rescue (SME) assisted Cambridge Rescue and Fire with a female patient who turned her ankle while hiking on the Sterling Pond Trail about 200 yards below the intersection with Snuffys ski trail. The subject was unable to bear weight.

Cambridge Fire and Rescue accessed the subject, immobilized her injured ankle, and packaged her in a Stokes litter. Cambridge Team determined it would be best to evacuate the subject up to Snuffys with the help of SMR.

Cambridge requested SMR bring an ATV to the Snuffys/Sterling Pond Trail intersection and assist with the evacuation.

SMR accessed Snuffys by the Spruce Peak work road. Two team members accessed Snuffys/Sterling Pond Trail intersection with an ATV; four team members and SMR pickup staged at the top of the Sensation Quad on Spruce Peak.

The litter and patient were moved up to the ATV waiting on Snuffys and then transported by ATV down the work road. She was then delivered to Cambridge Rescue for transportation to Copley Hospital.

Team Members Responding
Reinhardt, Westervelt, Miller, Eykelhoff, McLean, Millick

Other Agencies Responding
Cambridge Fire and Rescue

Time of Call
16:00 – 18:15

Weather Conditions
Calm, Hot, Dry, Clear

Injured Hiker (Sterling Pond)

A 62 year-old female fell injuring her hip near Sterling Pond. Subject was accessed by the Spruce Peak Work Road and Snuffies ski trail using SMR ATVs and Truck. The patient was packaged in a vacuum mattress and stokes litter/wheel.

She was carried to the top of Spruce Peak/Sensation Lift, transferred to the pick-up truck and delivered to Stowe Rescue (positioned at Mount Mansfield Ski Club) for transportation to UVM Medical Center.

Team Members Responding
Govoni, Speer, Eykelhoff, Burke, McLean, Wehse, Raybold, Millick

Other Agencies Responding
Stowe Rescue

Time of Call
16:00-18:30

Weather Conditions
Calm, Hot, Dry, Clear

Injured Swimmer (Bingham Falls)

Male subject struck his back while diving at Bingham Falls. The subject was assisted out of the water by bystanders and was found by rescue lying on a rock at the edge of the large pool near the base of the gorge.

The patient was complaining of intense lower back pain and right shoulder pain. He was immobilized, packaged in a litter, and administered pain medication.

Three raise systems were utilized for the extrication up the steep steps leading down to the gorge. The patient was transported to UVM MC by Stowe Rescue.

Team Members Responding
Veliko, Govoni, VanDyke, Reinhardt, Speer, Westervelt, Miller, Rogers, Burke, Wehse, Raybold, Millick, Warren

Other Agencies Responding
Stowe Rescue, Stowe Police Dept (Traffic), Morrisville Rescue (Paramedic)

Time of Call
17:00 – 19:00

Weather Conditions
Calm, Hot, Dry, Clear

Hiker Evacuation (Mt. Mansfield/Chin)

Female hiker, within a party of 3, was on the Long Trail north of the Chin of Mt Mansfield and was unable to negotiate the scrambling / exposed rock and boulder segment just below the summit.

After several unsuccessful attempts to talk the party through this section over the phone, the team was dispatched to assist the subject.

SMR accessed the Long Trail from the top of the Toll Road; then hiked out to just beyond the Chin where the party was located.

The party was cold and wet; SMR provided additional clothing immediately. With the assistance of SMR personnel, the subject was able to gain the summit and walk out to the Summit Station.

SMR drove the party back to their car located at the Long Trail access point trail-head on Route 108.

Team Members Responding
Veliko, Speer, Eykelhoff, Westervelt, Rogers, Wehse, Raybold, Millick

Other Agencies Responding
none

Time of Call
20:00-23:30

Weather Conditions
Calm, Cool, Clear, Dry

Swimmer Injury (Bingham Falls)

Female subject slipped and hit her head while swimming at Bingham Falls. She complained of nausea and numbness and was reported to be on a rock in the middle pool area.

Stowe Rescue, Mt. Rescue and Stowe Police Dept. responded. The subject was evaluated by Stowe Rescue personnel and walked out with assistance.

Team Members Responding
Veliko, Govoni, Westervelt, Miller, Raybould, Warren

Other Agencies Responding
Stowe Rescue, Stowe Police

Time of Call
13:00 – 14:15

Weather Conditions
Sunny / Hot (80 deg), Clear, Dry

Injured Hiker Litter Evacuation (Hunger Mountain)

Waterbury Back-Country Rescue (WBCR) requested assistance with a 64-year old female complaining of a hip injury on the Hunger Mountain Trail.

WBCR established command and deployed a hasty team to locate and evaluate the subject. The patient was located ~0.5 miles / 400′ in elevation up the trail. A litter team was fielded next followed by additional rescuers to assist with the extrication.

The subject had been hiking down the tail and fell injuring her right hip / femur. She was immobilized with a lower leg vacuum splint and then further immobilized with a vacuum mattress and significant padding to maintain a position of relative comfort.

She was evacuated without incident with a litter/wheel (no belays required). Once at the parking lot she was transferred to Stowe rescue for transport to UVMC.

Team Members Responding
Veliko, Govoni, Westervelt, Miller, Raybould, Warren

Other Agencies Responding
Waterbury Back Country Rescue
Stowe Rescue (Ambulance Service)

Time of Call
14:00 – 17:00

Weather Conditions
Calm, Partial Overcast, Hot (75 Degrees), Dry

Injured Hiker Litter Evacuation (Sterling Pond Trail)

Cambridge Fire Department requested assistance from Stowe Mountain Rescue (SMR) to rescue a female subject with an ankle injury located about a third of a mile up Sterling Pond Trail. Cambridge Fire Dept and Cambridge Rescue were treating the injured subject when SMR arrived with the litter and wheel.

The patient was packaged and evacuated to the road without incident; the extrication required one rope belay down a particularly steep pitch.

Team Members Responding
Reinhardt, Rogers, McLean

Other Agencies Responding
Cambridge Fire Department
Cambridge Rescue (Ambulance Service)

Time of Call
14:20 – 16:30

Weather Conditions
Calm, Partial Overcast, Hot (75 Degrees)