Article updated at 7:20 a.m. on Tuesday, February 10.
Rescuers endured dangerously cold temperatures, deep snow, and powerful winds to rescue two hypothermic hikers on Camel’s Hump in Vermont Saturday night.
The Waterbury Backcountry Rescue Team (WBRT) received a report at 6:15 p.m. on Saturday, February 7 of two hikers on the Long Trail near the Camel’s Hump summit (4,083 feet). The hikers had called 911. They had reportedly been on the mountain for more than seven hours and were suffering from severe cold exposure.
The hikers said their water was frozen, they had little food, they were in knee-deep snow, and they were unsure of their location.
Four WBRT members responded, joined by three members of the Camel’s Hump Backcountry Rescue Team (CHBRT) from Richmond Rescue. In a post on their Facebook page, CHBRT members described the following rescue as one of the most challenging in their history.
Members of Huntington Search and Rescue were initially place on standby, but were later requested to the scene.
The hikers were a 21-year-old man and a 19-year-old woman, both of Ontario, Canada, according to Vermont State Police. Rescuers advised the hikers to continue their upward climb and take the Alpine Trail, where rescuers would meet them.
Five hours later, at 11:47 p.m., the first team of six rescuers met up with the patients on the Alpine Trail at around 3,700 feet. US National Weather Service Burlington VT estimated the temperature to be -15 degrees F. The snow was deep, and the wind was blowing.
Both hikers were reportedly suffering from hypothermia. The 21-year-old hiker was able to walk down the trail with assistance after warming up. The 19-year-old had to be slid down the mountain in a litter while she continued to be treated for hypothermia. Three rescuers assisted the first hiker down, and the other nine rescuers helped the second hiker.
Rescuers placed the second hiker inside a Bothy Bag. That hiker was also on a sleeping pad and in a sleeping bag with an extra-large chemical heat pack.
At 4:01 a.m. on Sunday, the second hiker and all rescuers arrived at the trailhead and transferred care to Waterbury Ambulance.
Both hikers survived and are expected to make a full recovery.
Rescuers cautioned hikers to use caution in the mountains, especially during the winter.
