Stranded AT hikers rescued by airlift

By Stuart Hedstrom

Staff Writer

BLANCHARD — Two missing northbound thru-hikers were found safe on a flooded portion of the Appalachian Trail (AT). Amy McConaughy, 27 of from Belair, Ma. and Kelly Wood, 25 from Nokesville, Va., became stranded on a portion of the AT near Blanchard due to a flooded East Branch of the Piscataquis River.

Photo courtesy of Maine Warden Service

SAFE AND SOUND — Appalachian Trail northbound thru-hikers Amy McConaughy, left, and Kelly Wood were rescued on the trail near Blanchard on Oct. 1. The two and a male hiker became stranded following heavy rains, and after ground rescue attempts failed the hikers were brought to safety by a Maine Army National Guard UH-60 Blackhawk helicopter  equipped with an air rescue basket to extract the three.

During the middle of the morning on Oct. 1, several Maine game wardens and two searchers with Mount Desert Island Search and Rescue located the two missing women near the intersection of the AT and the East Branch. Searchers also located another stranded hiker, 26-year-old Gabriel Grace of Baltimore. The three were cold and wet but did have additional supplies.

A Maine Army National Guard UH-60 Blackhawk helicopter responded with an air rescue basket and extracted the three from the area, lifting them to safety at a nearby field. In a news release the Maine Warden Service said without help from the Maine Army National Guard, the  rescue would have been much more difficult. Previous ground rescue attempts were not successful due to the high volume of rain causing the water to swell to dangerous levels, requiring the Maine National Guard Soldiers to utilize an external hoist with a floatation basket to safely recover the trapped hikers in a mission lasting for about an hour.

“This is why we conduct interagency training,” said Brig. Gen. Gerard F. Bolduc, the acting adjutant general for the Maine National Guard in a statement. “Our service members are ready to respond at a moment’s notice to work with our partners in the Maine Warden Service. I am very pleased with everyone’s performance and the teamwork that exists between the Maine Warden Service and the Maine National Guard.”

The rescue team consisted of Maj. Nathan Arnold, Chief Warrant Officer 4 Jon Campbell, 1st Sgt. Arthur Ward and Sgt. 1st Class Thomas Thibodeau.

The women had been dropped off several days prior in Caratunk by Wood’s father. They had planned to be out on the evening of Sept. 29 in Monson. When they did not arrive when scheduled, the father called the Maine Warden Service.

Fellow northbound thru-hiker Billy Lehman saw the two women during the evening on Sept. 29. At that point he indicated they were about mile southwest of the Horseshoe Canyon lean-to. The hiker stated the women were camped and fine. He stayed at the lean-to until the next morning when he continued on. He crossed the East Branch of the Piscataquis River where the water was over his waist and flowing heavily. It quickly became evident that the two hikers likely became stranded near the lean-to due to the fast-flowing river crossing and the search focused there.

McConaughy began her hike on April 1 and Wood started two days later. The women did not know each other before starting but became friends while hiking. Grace began his hike March 9 in Georgia.

The Maine Warden Service advises all hikers that rivers can become very high and dangerous. People hiking the AT should bring with them good communication devices to aid in unforeseen mishaps.