Hiker Rescued on Precipice Trail in Acadia National Park

36 first responders from Mount Desert Island Search and Rescue, Acadia Mountain Guides, Bar Harbor paramedics and Acadia National Park staff were involved in a rescue from a 26 year old Portland man on Monday, July 23rd who was climbing the Precipice Trail in Acadia National Park.

The hiker who was climbing on one of the technical rung sections reached above to grab a rock and when the rock gave way, fell an estimated 60 feet, somersaulting down. Park Rangers received a 9-1-1 call around 6PM.

When rescuers reached him, they found the hiker to have broken bones and lacerations, but the injuries were not life threatening. The heavy fog precluded a helicopter so rescuers had to carry out the patient on a litter on the Orange and Black Trail. Because of the terrain and exposure, over six belay stations were used.

Over the course of 4 hours, the patient was carried to a scree field (area of rock fall deposits) below the intersection of the Precipice Trail and the Orange and Black Trail and then a guiding line (a tensioned rope that allows the litter to hover just above the ground over a difficult point) was used to move the patient to the road. An ambulance was waiting on the road to transport the patient to Mount Desert Island Hospital.
“We are very grateful to all the rescuers who worked together to get this visitor to
medical attention,” said Superintendent Kevin Schneider. “Having these highly trained
and dedicated rescuers makes a significant difference when an accident of this nature
occurs.”