GRANDFATHER MOUNTAIN — Multiple agencies from Avery County, with assistance from neighboring counties, successfully executed a carryout of an injured female hiker on Saturday afternoon, July 27, from Attic Window Trail off Grandfather Mountain.
More than 35 personnel, the vast majority of which were volunteers through area fire and rescue departments, entered the trail via the Grandfather attraction around 3 p.m. on Saturday, according to Avery County Fire Marshal and Emergency Management Director Paul Buchanan.
“At roughly 3 p.m., Linville Fire and Linville Central Rescue Squad received a call for a lady who had basically injured her knee on the Attic Window, a trail atop Grandfather where you can access through the attraction or through the Profile Trail. Ultimately the quickest route and where she had entered was from the attraction on Black Bear Trail,” Buchanan said. “Roughly, she was about 3.5 to 4 miles in, and unfortunately we had to traverse a homemade ladder that climbs the side of the mountain there. Park staff went in and our rescue staff began going in, and it took from an hour to an hour and a half to reach the patient, and upon assessment, she had an issue with her knee, potentially a torn ligament in the left knee.”
Agencies attempted to airlift the patient from the wooded area with the assistance of NC HART (Helo-Aquatic Search and Rescue Team) and was unable to do so after multiple attempts.
“We tried to utilize NC HART, which is a combination of state patrol and National Guard helicopters that emergency management uses across the state,” Buchanan explained. “We brought the helicopter in from Raleigh and sat it down in MacRae Meadows to attempt four different times to hoist her off the ledge into the helicopter to get her to the hospital quicker.”
Following a chopper refuel, the helicopter returned for one additional attempt, then fog set in the mountain, as Grandfather makes its own weather, that prevented further rescue opportunity by air, and responders commenced with a multi-hour carryout that took more than four hours to complete on the terrain before the patient was transported via Avery EMS to a medical facility.
“No alternate route was available, but we had 35 to 40 responders and command staff. She was immobile and we went in with the anticipation of fully carrying her out,” Buchanan added. “Around 35 responders worked in the woods to utilize a Stokes basket and manpower on hand to do the carryout. The responders had to use hand-over-hand to carry the patient from ledges safely, taking turns in order to get this lady out.”
The incident and response is not completely uncommon to area rescue personnel, as Buchanan noted that carryouts of such variety are often a yearly or more frequent occurrence that requires the respondents to put their training to work in real-life scenarios.
“We’re tasked with this at least once a year if not more. Between the Rescue Squad, Linville Fire and other agencies, we’re training and working together. As one of our responders said, it was very fluid what we did that day and almost seamless,” Buchanan said. “As far as cooperation between agencies, our training definitely kicked in, and it wasn’t the first time we’d been there.”
Several agencies responded to the incident including Linville Fire Department, Linville-Central Rescue Squad, Avery EMS, Banner Elk Volunteer Fire and Rescue, Crossnore Fire Department, and assets from NC Emergency Management provided assets. Avery also received additional assistance on the call from Watauga County Emergency Management office, as well as from Foscoe in the carryout which was complete around nightfall at 9:30 p.m. that evening.
“We reciprocate all the help between Watauga coming to help us, and us going to help other agencies. It’s almost a weekly occurrence, helping folks in Caldwell at Wilson Creek or assisting Watauga in their endeavors,” Buchanan said. “Watauga County Emergency Management assisted, along with three respondents from Foscoe who helped.”
Buchanan noted that anyone who enjoys the beauty of nature and of a hike should be vigilant in their preparation for treks onto trails and into the woods where incidents can potentially occur, regardless of physical condition.
“This patient was someone who was fit and active who suffered an accident. We encounter patients from time to time who may not necessarily consider the weather of the mountain, with chilly evenings and not prepared for the temperature change which is rather stark throughout the summer months and the year. It wasn’t the case here, but some folks go in and aren’t prepared to receive rain and so forth. Even though a summer day may be warm and clear, people should be prepared for that summer storm that can come out of nowhere,” Buchanan said. “That temperature change and wetness can set a patient into a hyperthermia situation. Our days also start cool and it gets extremely warm in the afternoon, and sometimes that temperature change is a situation in some patients that can bring on heat exhaustion.”
Buchanan also made note of appreciation to all the individuals taking their time on a Saturday afternoon, the vast majority on a voluntary basis, to assist in responding to the incident.
“This particular incident occurred at 3 p.m., and it takes people away from their families. It’s very selfless work that they do, to drop what they’re doing and lend aid to a 19-year-old who is injured in the woods,” Buchanan said. “Probably 99 percent of those assisting are volunteers, not making a dollar and possibly losing a dollar, coming out to assist in a carryout.”
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