TOWNSHIP 7, RANGE 9, Maine — A group of hikers and rescue personnel came to the aid of a Massachusetts man who reported he was not feeling well while hiking on the Appalachian Trail on Wednesday, the Maine Warden Service said Thursday.
Cpl. John MacDonald said that at about at 9 a.m. Wednesday hikers on the Appalachian Trail near Katahdin Ironworks came upon William Edwards, 55, of Orleans, Mass., who told them his knee replacement was causing him problems.
About 22 people aided in the carry-out effort, which started at 7 p.m. Wednesday at the Columbus Mountain Gap. The group included Game Warden Sgt. Glenn Annis, Warden Dan Carroll, Maine Forest Service personnel, Greenville fire and rescue personnel, Appalachian Mountain Club volunteers, through-hikers and other volunteers.
The carry-out concluded at midnight despite difficult hiking conditions caused by heavy rain. Edwards, who is now in good condition, according to MacDonald, had planned to end his trip at Mount Katahdin.
Just how much did this rescue call cost the State of Maine, The Town of Greenville, and the other parties that were there to carry this man out? I have been involved with MANY of these carry outs from this neck of the woods over the last 30 years and i would dare say that close to 70% of the these carries, the individuals had no bussiness being out there in the 100 mile wilderness. People need to think about where they are going and what effects it may have on them. Accidents do happen, this i understand, but i truely feel that the individual that need to be rescued should have to pay a portion of the cost to bring them to saftey.
Like the man with a knee replacement I’ll be hiking that region in July. If I need help I hope I don’t run into towogetee the bean counter.