Editor's note: This updates with plans to use a helicopter to pull the trio out of the backcountry.
Winter's latest punch to the East caught three Appalachian Trail hikers in Great Smoky Mountains National Park unprepared and needing to be rescued by rangers, who called in a helicopter to lift the three out.
The three men from Gaffney, South Carolina, -- Shawn Hood, Steven White, and Jonathan Dobbins -- had set out from Fontana Dam on Thursday with plans for a ten-day hike. But last night they called rangers to say they were cold and wet and needed help as they were unable to walk and had no shelter.
Responding rangers were able to reach the trio -- all between the ages of 21 and 32 -- and brought dry clothing and tents.
"They are being treated for hypothermia and possible frostbite. All three are very weak and cannot walk," said Kent Cave, the park's supervisory ranger. "Plans have been made to extricate the hikers using a helicopter from the North Carolina Helicopter and Aquatic Rescue Team (HART) early this afternoon."
Overnight temperatures in the park were reported to be "in the single digits and winds gusting to 35 miles per hour made wind chills near 20 degrees below zero," the park reported. "Blowing snow created drifts up to two feet. Rescue efforts were hampered by weather, road, and trail conditions, as well as the remote, rugged location. The men were located some 5 miles from the nearest trailhead."
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Comments
"Unfortunately we are providing for people that won't do for themselves, because they know they don't have to."
You mean like all those banks, auto companies that were bailed out by taxpayers and all those special interests that would destroy our environment because no one is making them act responsibly? I have to agree with that.
Please stay on topic....
Lee - The banks (in the aggregate) have paid back their loans and then some. But I agree, the auto companies should not have been stollen from their rightful owners and given to the unions.
But, to stay on topic, I think there is little doubt that peoples' increasing reliance on technology and expectation of free rescue has increased their propensity to take risk and reduce their efforts to prepare.
". . . there is little doubt that peoples' increasing reliance on technology and expectation of free rescue has increased their propensity to take risk and reduce their efforts to prepare."
Ach, mein Gott im Himmel!
We agree!
"And I too believe the "rescued" should pay. Just like we do in every other unfortunate event. Health, car, home, possessions .... If we don't take proper precautions we insure or we pay."
Wouldn't the payment of taxes and fees be the cost of insurance so that you would be rescued if something unfortunate should happen?
"Wouldn't the payment of taxes and fees"
I would rather the taxes and fees goes toward the preservation and maintainance of the park for those that don't do stupid things and that those that do, pay the additional cost of their indiscretions.
In other words, like outside the parks, I don't want to be forced to pay for bad decisions by others.
What constitutes a bad decision is an interesting question to consider. I think there might have been a discussion of this elsewhere in the Traveler?
Hiking into a snow storm without proper shelter or provisions is a bad decision. As is quoting someone out of context in order to decieve.