GREENVILLE (NEWS CENTER Maine) — Maine law enforcement and rescue crews this week came to the aid of several Appalachian Trail (AT) hikers facing high temperatures.
Maine Warden Service Cpl. John MacDonald said Thursday a 21-year-old woman hiking southbound near the Wilson Valley Lean-to contacted the Piscataquis County Sheriff's Office complaining of nausea.
Cpl. MacDonald said four wardens along with the Greenville and Monson fire departments and Charles A. Dean Memorial Hospital staff responded Thursday morning and provided the woman with medical treatment at the scene. She was carried out by litter to an awaiting ATV, then taken to C.A. Dean.
On Tuesday, wardens and crews from the Monson Fire Department and C.A. Dean responded to a GPS-triggered distress signal activated by a 67-year-old man experiencing heat exhaustion.
The service said the hiker's GPS located gave responding units a good location to search for him. They found him by using a nearby trail accessible by ATV.
The man was taken to C.A. Dean where he was evaluated.
These cases were just two of several that wardens responded to this week, including calls from concerned family members of hikers. MacDonald said the service asks that hikers be prepared for Maine's rigorous "100-Mile Wilderness" before embarking on the journey.
Here are some safety tips from the Maine Warden Service:
• Always have detailed hiking plans and leave them with someone who is trustworthy.
• Be sure to have several days of food, water, and basic survival equipment.
• Stay on marked trails and do not take shortcuts.
• Stay up to date on the weather. During extreme heat, hikers should allow themselves more time. Also, thunderstorms can raise stream and river levels in localized areas and can create delays for hikers.
• Hikers should invest in satellite-based GPS communication devices, especially in remote areas. This technology allows families to track and communicate with those who are hiking.
