BAR HARBOR, Maine — A 22-year-old New Hampshire woman who was a student at the University of Maine died Saturday after a fall from the Precipice Trail on Champlain Mountain in Acadia National Park.
Shirley Ladd, a senior at UMaine, fell about 60 feet and suffered multiple injuries, according to a statement issued by park rangers.
Ladd, who was hiking with one companion, fell at about 11 a.m. She was pronounced dead at 5:07 p.m. at Eastern Maine Medical Center in Bangor.
Park Ranger Supervisor Richard Rechholtz said Sunday the woman was about three-quarters of the way to the summit and had not yet reached the part of the trail where the cliff becomes more sheer, with multiple metal rungs and ladders that assist hikers. She was on a section of trail that included a switchback, he said, and when she fell, landed on another section of trail below.
“You need to pay attention if you’re going to hike that trail,” Rechholtz said. “It’s one of the most challenging nontechnical trails on the East Coast.” A technical trail is one that requires hikers to use ropes.
Ladd’s hometown was Barnstead, N.H., according to UMaine Public Affairs spokeswoman Margaret Nagle. She was a psychology major with a minor in business administration who worked in the New Balance Student Recreation Center on campus, most recently as a student building manager.
“She was pretty well known on campus,” Nagle said Sunday.
A cellphone call alerted public safety officials to the fall, Rechholtz said. A nurse and a paramedic who were hiking on the trail attended to Ladd.
Rangers, the Mount Desert Island Search and Rescue team, the Bar Harbor Fire Department’s paramedics, Acadia Mountain Guides and LifeFlight of Maine worked to carry the woman to the summit.
Ladd was strapped to a litter and, with a series of anchors and pulleys, was raised 250 vertically to the top of the mountain. The LifeFlight helicopter landed at the Champlain Mountain summit, Rechholtz said, when it was determined that it was easier for rescuers to climb down to the woman rather than climb from the trailhead.
It took almost six hours to get the woman to the helicopter, he said.
The LifeFlight aircraft returned once to Bangor to pick up more medical staff, Rechholtz said, and returned a third time to the summit with more supplies. In all, 39 rescuers helped.
“Our thoughts are with her family, friends and the many people on campus who knew and loved her, and whose lives she touched,” Robert Dana, UMaine vice president for student affairs and dean of students, said Sunday. “As one of our student managers at the fitness center, she was well known for her outgoing personality and customer service. She was always ready with a smile. Shirley was a strong leader among her peers. She will be missed by so many in our community.”
Any student who wants to talk with someone about the death can contact the UMaine Counseling Center at 581-1392, Nagle said. Faculty and staff with similar concerns can contact the Employee Assistance Program at 581-4014.
I’m sorry to hear this, but not surprised. The Precipice is more a non-technical climb than a trail. It’s not hard if you’re in reasonably good shape, but you have to be careful and aware of your footing and what you’re doing. Best to do it with someone else. Don’t do the precipice if you’re afraid of heights. The hardest part of the climb is actually the very beginning, at a spot where there’s a rung set high up on a rock that is difficult for the old and the short.
Truth, it is a dangerous climb. I would be especially weary if the weather has been wet as the rock gets slick. You need good footware too.
All to often people are wearing sandals and similar footwear on trails like that.
Yes, good footware and no treking poles or big packs – they’ll just get in the way -; at most, a small fanny pack and some water. I’ve only done it once, 2 years ago, and that was going up. I went down a much easier way. I wouldn’t even try going down the Precipice.
Me either!!!
I had a golden retriever who could ‘climb’ and I believe he found a way to the top before I got up the ‘ladder’. Amazing dog who was always scaring me with the places he found to perch on.
I’ve never done it, though I’d love to. But my severe fear of heights has kept me off of it. (Done Beehive, etc, but I’ve always passed on Precipice.)
Such a shame for all that she succumbed to her injuries after all of their efforts. I’m sure they all feel terrible as well.
Condolences to her family and friends, and to all the rescue personnel who worked so hard to get her off the mountain.
She was my daughter Shirley Lee Ladd. Her brother and I and the rest of the family will miss u very much.
Sorry about your loss. May the memory you have of your daughter comfort you during this difficult time. It is never easy to lose a loved one especially one so young.
I love you Jeannie I’m so sorry for your loss, stay strong my friend, I’m here for you all.
With love, Lisa
I’m really sorry.
God will take care of all of you, always remember the special times to gracefully lift you to his arms. My thoughts and prayers go out to all of you.
You are in my prayers.
so sorry…I will pray that you and your family find the strength you need to get through this.
I’m so sorry for your loss.
I am very sorry for your loss.
I am so sorry. My though and prayers are with you and your family.
I’m so sorry for your loss.
Sorry for your loss.
So sorry for your loss Jeannie.
I am incredibly sorry for your loss. You and your entire family are in my prayers.
She was a friend of my daughter. they worked together. My daughter thought a lot of her.. We are all so very saddened by her passing and your loss. GOD bless you and your family . Our thoughts and Prayers are with you
Sorry for your loss!
one of the hardest thing things to have to do is lose a child. my heart goes out to you and your family. may god give you strength to deal with your loss.
So sorry for your loss…
Mrs.Ladd, I was there and administered first aid when she fell. She did not suffer and we all worked hard to get her safely to help. I am sorry for your and her friends and families loss and have said my prayers for Shirley.
Very sorry for your loss. Thank you for giving readers a chance to say so.
I am so sorry for your loss.
Mrs. Ladd, My condolences in the loss of your daughter. As the father of three girls, I can not imagine your loss. My prayers for you and your family.
The NPS will probably put up a sign at the ladder warning about taking a view pic with your cell phone while climbing. … it’s a pretty steep climb, I did it once, trick is to look at the rungs, not the view!
That’s right. Lean into the rock faces, at least one hand on a rung or rock at all times, be prepared to get on your hands and knees, and don’t look down.
Notice the news report said she WASN’T where there are rungs and ladders.
Yes, there are some passages and stretches where there aren’t rungs and ladders. There’s even a long ledge that has a steel cable that was only anchored on one end when I went up.
So sad. Prayers are going out to her family.
Really? That was required? Thanks a lot Mr./Mrs. Webster for your remarkable contribution.
no thank yous needed. but thank you kind sir
***No thank yous needed, but thank you, kind sir.*** You may know correct spelling usage, but you know nothing about punctuation. Don’t be so pompous.
If you’re going to fix peoples grammar, you should probably learn to use it correctly first.
An unfortunate tragedy no doubt, but at least she died doing something she enjoyed.
So sorry for your loss. Sounds like a lot of great people did a great job to get her to EMMC.
Please remind us of the last fatality on the Precipice Trail.
look it up yourself. Not sure, but it has happened many many times. I am in defense of peoples lives, not the trail. Tragedies should be avoided, when possible.
Uh, if you make a claim, it’s YOUR responsibility to provide supporting evidence, not the responsibility of the person who questions you.
The last fatality to occur on Precipice Trail, by the way, was way back in 1985 — 27 years ago.
I once had a list of all deaths that have occurred inAcadia Naional Park, and the causes. Most deaths have involved people falling off cliffs next to the ocean. Using your logic, we should close all trails that follow the shoreline. That would mean putting Thunder Hole off-limits, ditto Great Head Trail, ditto the trail that goes from Sand Beach to Otter Point.
It certainly doesn’t take long for the “there ought to be a law” liberals to come out does it.
The State/Government is not there to protect you from your own decisions and shouldn’t try to. WE are each responsible for our decisions, good and bad, and suffer or prosper accordingly. It is unfortunate that a young life was ended prematurely but the answer is not more governmental regulation. She was an adult and made the decision to hike a wild area freely. The right to make that same decision should not be impeded or taken away for the rest of us nor should the reward for accomplishing it be diminished through further “safety” regulation. Risk is part of a full life lived freely.
Better not drive a car: far more people are killed on the road than on the Precipice…
She was a good friend and a good human being.
“It took almost six hours to get the woman to the helicopter, he said.” Why did it take so long?
Do you have any idea what is involved in a technical rescue off the side of a mountain? Apparently not, otherwise, you would not ask such an irresponsible question. After 20+ years as a Paramedic / Firefighter in rural New England, I can tell you that the rescuers here did an outstanding job in very difficult circumstances, and are to be commended for their efforts. Please refrain from criticisms of a profession about which you know nothing.
To the family of Ms. Ladd, you have my sincere condolences, I pray God will bring you comfort in this difficult time.
You wouldn’t understand unless you have tried to get somebody down off a mountain. Don’t imply that the rescuers did not do everything they could to save this young woman. What a horrible thing to imply about them…and insulting to Shirley’s memory.
I wondered the same thing…..why not just airlift the person with a basket, the Coast Guard is nearby and have equipment….. They do extreme rescue all the time and they know what they are doing
There are no Coast Guard Aviation assets located in the State of Maine. The nearest Coast Guard helo is located on Cape Cod. There is a lot more involved in performing this type of rescue then just to lower a basket down the side of a mountain and pull her out by chopper. It is not that easy.
This type of rescue is called a Technical Rescue. Not just any member of a Search and Rescue team can do this. It is highly specialized and technical. Many years of training, practicals, and courses are needed to reach this level of expertise.
Why don’t you study the mountain where she fell and then study about performing Technical Rescue’s during search operations before you open your trap due to your ignorance. I am a Wilderness Search and Rescue Incident Commander and Team Leader and I am not credentialed to perform Technical Rescues.
Mr Commander. I am not sure what an aviation asset is, I was talking about a helicopter? I have seen them do this type of thing on TV, and it looks pretty straight forward to me, and Cape Cod is pretty close by air….. I also thought this was a recovery of an injured person, what is a technical rescue? And, I don’t know why any able bodied person can’t do this type of thing, and help a person out, who won’t let them anyway, we should look into that? I am sorry you are not credentialed to do this, maybe you can brush up on your skills and try again? Oh, and I was just posing some reasonable questions, you don’t have to be rude about that, maybe your poor
attitude is why they won’t give you permission to rescue people….just sayin’
On the SIDE of a mountain? How, might I ask, would the helicopter actually hover above and still have clearance for the rotors? The face is sheer and the top 250 further up.
I done seen ’em do it on the Tee Vee!
Yeah, you don’t get it.
nothing about that post was reasonable bro.
Hey humanindividaul. She was 60 feet down. Do you think they just could climb up the side? Do you think they could just hike her up the slope? They had to bring her up 250 feet vertically to get to the helicopter. It took 39 people. Don’t you think they did their job as efficiently and expeditiously as possible? Keeping everyone safe is a main goal. That concept every cross your mind?
That’s NOT true. It’s not every year. And in fact, this is the first time in my recent memory. And I too, am a local.
It -is- dangerous. There’s no doubt about that.
Let’s face it. That’s the point. That’s why she was there.My heart goes out to this woman’s family.
I am so sorry for the loss this family has suffered. The trail should not be closed but these trails always need to be taken seriously (not that this young woman didn’t…I just want people to understand the difficulty of this trail). The same is true of the Beehive trail. We climbed it recently and saw people wearing sandals and people going off trail to get around the crowd. We have seen the same issues on Katahdin…people frequently underestimate all the trails on that mountain. Be prepared…be as safe as you can. Avoid another tragedy.
It has happened,often. Deaths have occured, several times, over many years. Please look it up. What do you mean, “That’s the point?” Do you mean, that’s why people want to climb it? These tourists are at the mercy of the national park staff, and of us, the locals, to think it’s “ok” to climb the Precipise,as any of us are when we are “tourists” or visitors to unfamiliar places. Ofcourse, it’s exciting, challenging, beautiful to climb The Precipise!! Let’s look up some stats as to how many people have died there in the past 10-15-20 yrs. Maybe a sign should be set at the bottom of the trail….” XX people have died here, be careful…”
I only care about people, and want to spare them tragedy. There are plenty of beautiful places in Acadia NP to visit!!
The park service does a wonderful job at Acadia and they are not to blame for this tragedy. There are warnings. These trails are challenging and enjoyable but you have to treat them with the respect they deserve.
My prayers are with this girls family.
I am mixed about that. If possible, see how many deaths have occured at that climb. Is it really necessary? There are plenty of other challenges on MDI, that have not had such a history of death. I feel so bad for tourists who come here for fun. I feel that particular trail, and also telling unaware tourists that is safe to ride their bikes in so many unsafe places on the Island, is just not right!! Tourists and Visitors!!!…ask the locals what they think!!!
You’re insane. Do you know how many people have drown at Sand Beach? Should we close that to?? Do you know how many sailors have died while fishing off the coast? Should we close the fishing grounds to?? I’m local and I think you’re crazy for even suggesting closing it down just because a few accidents have happened on it.
Easy, Dexter207. “insane”? That’s harsh for this type of discussion. I stand my ground. Fishing, Sand Beach, that’s not the issue. I am talking about The Pecipise Trail.
You keep saying (and I wonder if you are the same person on Facebook saying the same thing) that people die on Precipice “every year” and it is not even remotely close to being true. Not sure why people feel the need to fabricate scary statistics in the wake of a tragedy like this.
There is a sign at the bottom (and the top for those coming up the back of the mountain) clearly stating that people have died on this nontechnical trail. This an extremely challenging and rewarding climb. This girl was not a tourist, she most likely knew what she was getting into. People hike this for the thrill, just as I did a few weeks ago. This was a very tragic event.
My deepest condolences to the Ladd family. I am so terribly sorry for your loss.
May you rest easy, Shirley.
“Let’s look up some stats as to how many people have died there in the past 10-15-20 yrs.”
Yes, let us.
And the answer before this past weekend was ZERO.
Search the ProQuest Maine Newsstand database yourself for “Precipice Trail.” There have been a small number of injuries, but no deaths since 1985.
Like the rocks near Thunder Hole or over on Schoodic? How many people have died getting too close to the water, or kayaking, or riding a bike, or simply hiking down a trail (yes, this year). Precipice is no more deadly than any other part of the park.
By the way: there is a sign!!
GOOGLE it!!
I googled it, searched the BDN, and then called two friends who have been at ANP for over 25 years (one does trail work). The last fatality on this trail was decades ago.
There are often a couple of fatalities each year in the park for various reasons from falls, to medical issues, to drownings. More people have been killed in ANP by drowning because of being knocked in the water by large waves than on the Precipice. There have also been numerous falling fatalities from various trails and overlooks around the park over the years, any of which offer similar risks to the Precipice Trail if one is not diligent. There are also plenty of places along the shoreline from Schooner Head to Hunters Beach where one could easily be killed in a fall.
Accidents can and will happen. Personal responsibility is the only solution; not reduced access. Otherwise lets just close all parks with risks, and while we are at it lets ban driving cars too!
obviously you haven’t googled it
She is right guys, every year someone falls from Precipice, it usually is a fatality. Ask anyone who hikes all the time and reads the magazines. Precipice has been voted the most dangerous trail on the East Coast for years, because of its yearly accidents. However there is no reason to close the trail, accidents happen. If we got all upset every time someone died doing something and shut it down, we would literally have nothing to do.
the last fatality on this trail was over 25 years ago.
Simply false. More people get swept off the rocks by waves than are killed on that trail.
Voted “most dangerous trail” in which publication and in which years?
The last death on the trail before this young women’s occurred in 1985. Search the ProQuest Maine Newsstand database.
so, so, sad she had a great future ahead of her …my heart goes out to the family i knew Shirley through her grandparents who loved her dearly, Tom & Sharon Pare may time heal you broken heart.
I am so sorry for your great loss. She was too young.
nope. check it out. I have read the local papers for many years. The only reason I have expressed my opinion is that I am sorry for these people and their families. No other reason.
Me too. That’s how I know you’re wrong.
To anyone who can give US an accurate answer…
How many deaths have occured on The Precipise Trail? And, please give us details about what years they occured. The past 25 years would be helpful to me.
People fall or get hurt at least once a year, the last fatality I believe was around 2004ish.
1985.
ZERO fatalities on this trail in the last 25 years
We are all truly day to day…
I am against the nanny state but in this case I believe climbing the Precipice should be by permit only with a permit granted only after the applicant has been fully informed as to exactly what this trail is about. If someone is afraid of heights, they could be stricken by a panic attack and realize passing out could be possible which would increase the chances of passing out.
Applicants should be required to view a film like the following:
http://www.nationalparksblog.com/precipice-trail-acadia-national-park/
This would make some recognize this is not for them and could save lives while still allowing the intrepid to climb the mountain.
Shirley Ladd and her family are in our prayers.
But if you need a permit to climb the precipice, wouldn’t you also need one to climb Tumbledown in Weld? And to do the Cathedrals in Baxter? Or the hike into Speck Pond in Grafton Notch? This is a horrible thing that happened to this poor girl, and I’m sorry for her family. But we all take calculated risks of different types — from walking on a cross walk to changing lanes on 95 to canoeing the Allagash.
There’s a giant sign at the bottom. Should we have a permit for the Beehive too? Or any trail with an exposure over 50 feet? Most the trails in Acadia would be permit-only in that case!
From 2009:
“Have you ever climbed Precipice, or Beehive?” asked Superintendent Steele, referring to two Acadia trails that at points require hikers to pull themselves up hand-over-hand on metal rungs hammered into the granite walls. “I’m sure there are people who are sure we should close the Precipice Trail because it’s dangerous. But, literally thousands of people go up that every year and have one of the best experiences of their life. And they realize that there’s some danger involved in it. If they fall off one of those ladders they’re liable to be seriously injured.”
http://www.nationalparkstraveler.com/2009/08/acadia-national-park-superintendent-way-you-could-make-park-safest-would-be-allow-no-one-use
We climbed both trails several times with preteen kids. The routes are strenuous but not dangerous if you pay attention. It’s just that if you *do* make a mistake, it gets bad fast.
I actually think the exposures coupled with bigger crowds makes Beehive potentially more dangerous. I’ve climbed them both several times and I’m not sure I would take my kids. They’re probably fine, but I’ll have a heart attack!!
I knew Shirley and when she did something she did it well. She was full of life even as a lil girl. You will be missed R.I.P.
If you are anticipating climbing the Precipice Trail, it would be helpful to watch the video in this link to get a feeling for what it’s like: http://www.nationalparksblog.com/precipice-trail-acadia-national-park/
This is truly a shame. This park is very dangerouse and should be closed immediately. So many injuries and deaths every year, at’s almost safer to drive a car!
Life is dangerous.
Wow! I hope you never leave your house.
Was in Acadia National Park on saturday and happened to witness the rescue of this young woman while driving by the mountain. Didn’t realize what was going on till later that evening when I read the story on Twitter. My condolences go out to the Ladd family, may your daughter rest in peace and God be with you.
After reliving the climb through the video, I am awed at whoever ‘installed’ all these climbing aids…a diff. age and tougher people. Lots of places to miss a step. Def. don’t look down, and def. plan each ascent step, esp. crossovers.
My thoughts are with Shirley’s friends and family during this unbearably difficult time. Although it was long ago and only for a short time in middle school, I remember Shirley always smiling and in the highest of spirits.
I would like to remind those leaving comments on this page that this is not the appropriate forum for dispute of logistics, statistics, or policies. While I appreciate the questions this tragedy has inevitably raised, and agree that they are important to reflect upon, I feel that these conversations, heated as they have become, belong elsewhere.
May Shirley rest in peace and may her memory serve as a reminder of all that is beautiful in life.