Maine Forest Service Helicopter Aids in Mt Katahdin Hiker Rescue

Watch as the Maine Forest Service Helicopter lands at Mt Katahdin in order to take a hiker to safety, after he was stranded for more than 60 hours.

The 59-year-old Missouri man began his hike on Thursday, as part of the Appalachian Trail trek. He spent Thursday night on the mountain, and reached the summit on Friday, but was injured at some point in his journey. Saturday morning, he was found by hikers and searchers, and the rescue began. But bringing an injured hiker, in a litter, down off the summit of Katahdin is daunting, to say the least.

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Maine Forest Rangers, Baxter State Park Rangers, Old Town Fire-Rescue personnel, as well as members of the Mahoosuc Mountain Search and Rescue Team and the Dirigo Search and Rescue team worked together to get him to Chimney Pond, where he was treated for dehydration. At this point, they had to figure out how to get him the rest of the way to the bottom. That's when the Forest Service helicopter flew in and was able to land. In a post on organization's Facebook page, a member of Dirigo Search and Rescue expressed what a relief it is, in this type of rescue, to hear that helicopter flying to the scene, calling it the 'best sound ground team personnel can hear.'

In a press release, Park Director Eben Sypitkowski said:

Without their assistance, this may have been a litter carrying involving 25 to 50 people for more than 15 hours to safely deliver this hiker to the roadside.

The man was taken to the hospital in Millinocket for further treatment.