Camden firefighters, ambulance crew, park rangers bring injured hiker down Megunticook trail

Wed, 04/17/2019 - 2:15pm

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    CAMDEN — A Portland woman, 44, hiking with her husband and three children in the Camden Hills State Park April 17 slipped on an ice patch and wet leaves, fell, and reportedly fractured her leg. With almost one half mile to go before reaching the Mt. Battie Road, the family called Knox Regional Communications Center for help, and within minutes, seven Camden firefighters, a crew of three from North East Mobile Health Services and two park employees were hiking into the woods with a Stokes basket to carry her out.

    The hiker had been descending from Ocean Lookout, at 1,300 feet, on the slope of Mount Megunticook along the Tablelands Trail when she was injured. Conditions on the mountain remain early springlike, with ice patches and slippery rocks covered with leaves.

    Camden Fire Department responded with its ladder truck, which carries much of the department’s emergency rescue equipment. Firefighters traveled in the truck up the Mount Battie Road with a North East ambulance, both parking at the trail junction. (See attached PDF for trail map)

    Crews took turns carrying the woman to the ambulance for approximately one-half mile along the trail. She was subsequently transported to Pen Bay Medical Center in Rockport.

    Responding Camden firefighters included Todd Anderson, Isiah Backiel, Clint Beverage, Tracy Harford, Jauck Hauprich, Jack Orestis and Fire Chief Chris Farley.

    Camden firefighters are periodically called to the state park, and other hiking trails, to help rescue injured hikers. Last October, they helped a woman down at dusk, who had slipped on the icy Megunticook Trail and injured her leg. 


    Reach Editorial Director Lynda Clancy at lyndaclancy@penbaypilot.com; 207-706-6657