Maine Rescuers Carry Injured Hiker Off Mountain

ACADIA NATIONAL PARK, Maine -- For the fourth time in the past couple of weeks, rescue personnel had to carry an injured hiker off Acadia Mountain, according to a park official.

The latest such incident occurred Thursday evening when a 43-year-old woman from Virginia injured her upper right leg while hiking on the eastern side of the mountain, overlooking Somes Sound, Ranger Brian Dominy said Friday evening. In keeping with the park's policy, Dominy did not release the woman's name.

Dominy, who said he did not have a lot of details about the incident, indicated that the injury occurred on a steep, physically demanding trail around 5:30 p.m. Thursday. Seven members of Mount Desert Island Search and Rescue and six park rangers responded and secured the hiker in a litter, he said. The response crew carried the woman down a south-facing trail that connects Acadia Mountain to St. Saveur Mountain and then out a fire road that connects the trail to Route 198.

By the time the party got to the highway, it was 10 p.m., the ranger said.

"It was a fairly long trip," he said.

A waiting ambulance took the woman to MDI Hospital in Bar Harbor to be evaluated. Dominy said he did not know on Friday evening what the woman's status was.

The ranger said the carry-out is the fourth such rescue of an injured hiker on Acadia Mountain since approximately mid-May. He said he is not sure why there have been several injuries on the mountain, but added that there seem to be more in the park in general so far this summer.

"It just seems to be a popular mountain this year," he said.

Dominy said wet weather this past month may be a factor in hikers slipping and hurting themselves. He stressed that hikers should wear sturdy shoes intended for trail use and be prepared.

Park officials have said hikers should carry maps, headlamps and water with them, and perhaps a cellphone, even though cellphone coverage in the park can be spotty.

Follow BDN reporter Bill Trotter on Twitter at @billtrotter.

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