Rescue crews had to carry one hiker over steep, rocky terrain in wet conditions.
Two hikers who got caught in a rainstorm and became dangerously cold had to be rescued on Mount Mansfield yesterday.
According to a post on the Stowe Mountain Rescue Facebook page, the two hikers were soaked from a rainstorm while hiking on the Hellbrook Trail on Mount Mansfield in Vermont on Friday, October 24.
One of the hikers reportedly slid into hypothermia that was severe enough to cause her to stop moving. The post stated the other hiker was left standing helplessly by, shivering and likely headed in the same direction.
Rescue crews from Stowe Mountain Rescue hiked up to the hikers. They carried Merino Wool top-to-bottom baselayer kits that were donated by Minus33. The post stated that the kits helped to save two lives in this instance.
Rescue crews were able to strip off wet clothing and dress both subjects in high quality dry gear. They plied them with maple syrup and electrolytes to provide calories. They slid a layer under the hypothermic hiker to protect her from the cold ground and used heat pads u nder her armpits.
Eventually, bundled in many layers of clothing, the hypothermic hiker recovered to the point where she could stand, but was reportedly too unsteady to manage the walk down.
Crews began a litter carry down the challenging Hellbrook Trail in wet weather as night approached. The steep, rocky trail was reportedly slick and required an attentive rope belay throughout.
Stowe Mountain Rescued received help carrying the hiker from members of the Cambridge Fire Department.
Crews reached the road before dark to hand thesubjects off to an ambulance.
