Some of you may have met John during the past few weeks, he was on his way to Maine. I received this notice from the CMC today. It’s nice to know that there are people out there helping when needed. Thank those Maintenance Clubs when you have a chance.
A hiker on the Appalachian Trail was weak and dizzy on Tuesday, March 30, and felt quite ill early Wednesday morning while at the Little Laurel Shelter of the Carolina Mountain Club. The second attempt to call out with a cell phone reached Miss Janet’s House hostel in Erwin, TN, who then called Bill Newton of CMC. Howard McDonald advised Bill to call Ned Sanders, President of the Greeneville (TN) Hiking Club to contact the Greeneville Emergency & Rescue Squad and to direct them to Camp Creek Bald in order to go down hill to Little Laurel Shelter. Ned met them there in spite of the six inches of snow on the Bald to guide them and to recommend they continue down hill to Log Cabin Road after reaching the hiker.
Helping in the rescue of 57 year old Mr. John Lawrence of Maine, was the Shelton Laurel Volunteer Fire Department from Madison County, NC. The entire group carried Mr. Lawrence on a stretcher for about four hours down the steep 3.3 miles to Log Cabin Road in wind, rain, sleet, and snow. An ambulance met the group atthe road and transported Mr. Lawrence to the Laughlin Memorial Hospital in Greeneville, TN. Ned Sanders talked on Thursday with Mr. Lawrence who told him his wife was coming to help him return to Maine. His through hike is over for this year and he is very grateful for all the help he received.
Bilko