KINGFIELD, Maine — Rescuers raced to save a hiker who became stranded along the Appalachian Trail over the weekend.
Franklin Search and Rescue (FSAR) met up with Maine game wardens at the East Flagstaff Road Appalachian Trail junction around 11 p.m. Saturday to begin the "long, arduous hike" to locate the hiker, FASR said in a social media post Monday.
"Freezing temperatures, gusty winds and soft deep snow faced rescuers in the race against time to reach and warm the stranded hiker before life-threatening hypothermia set in," the post stated.
Officials found the hiker along an exposed ridge well past the summit of Little Bigelow Mountain and quickly began rewarming efforts to help the cold hiker, according to FASR, which included getting the hiker out of his soaking wet gear and into warm, dry clothing, and giving him food and water.
The hiker eventually regained enough strength to accompany rescuers back to the trailhead, where they arrived safely around 7 a.m. Sunday.
"All told, FSAR volunteer rescuers drove approximately 298 miles to respond and more than 24 combined hours assisting Wardens effect this rescue," the post stated.
FSAR issued a reminder to hikers about how quickly weather conditions can change this time of year.
"Springtime in Maine can often be deceiving. Warmer day temperatures are often accompanied by freezing nighttime temps," the post continued. "Snow lingers at elevations until late May/early June in places. Always consider your gear, your outdoor adventure plan and your level of preparation before heading into Maine’s wilderness, and always have some means of communicating even in areas with spotty or no cell service."
FSAR said anyone interested in helping others as part of a volunteer search and rescue team can check out the Maine Association for Search and Rescue (MASAR) website for opportunities near you. People can also meet FSAR at one of its monthly training sessions held on the second Wednesday of each month at the Kingfield Fire Department at 18 Commercial Road in Kingfield.