Rescue crews navigated steep, difficult terrain to rescue an injured backcountry skier in Stowe, Vermont this weekend.
According to a social media post by Stowe Mountain Rescue, crews were notified of an injured skier at the top of Ultimate Chute, a steep gulley that is an expert-level backcountry ski line below an ice cliff on Mount Mansfield.
At the time of the call, members of Stowe Mountain Rescue were helping to set up a bootpack section of the weekend’s Stowe Mountain Heritage SkiMo Race. Rescuers dropped what they were doing and headed to Barnes Camp to assemble the necessary kit to conduct a rescue.
The injured skier was reportedly with a group of backcountry skiers that rescuers said were competent and well-equipped.
The group had reportedly hiked to the top of the chute and on his very first ski turn the skier reportedly aggravated an old injury. His friends spent an hour trying to address the injury before calling for help.
Rescuers said the group sent a skier down to the Notch Road to flag down rescuers and escort them to the scene.
With the help of a paramedic from Stowe Fire Rescue, rescuers were able to administer just enough medication to get the skier up on his feet and able enough to assist in his rescue.
Rescuers said the injured skier was a “trooper,” hiking backwards as he was belayed down the steep slope. Meanwhile, his friends worked to break trail by packing down the snow with their skis.
Rescuers said the backcountry ski party was well equipped, behaved responsibly and were helpful and engaged throughout the rescue mission.
In this case, it took rescuers an hour from the call to reach the skier, but they said it can much longer and backcountry enthusiasts should be prepared with warm clothing in case of injury.
