Hike ends with rescue call, Uber ride

October 23, 2024  |  By Lisa Scagliotti 

Dusk falls over Camel's Hump with the Comet Tsuchinshan-ATLAS in the sky above. Photo by Elyse Werth

As the seasons and weather conditions change daily this time of year, area backcountry rescue teams have been busy assisting outdoor adventurers who could have benefitted from some additional preparations. 

A Waterbury Backcountry Rescue Team crew responded this past weekend to assist a group of hikers who got a much more extensive tour of Camel’s Hump than they anticipated. Volunteer Brian Lindner shared this account on Tuesday:  

“With darkness setting in last Saturday evening, the Waterbury Backcountry Rescue Team was called out to assist four hikers from New York, Virginia, and Florida who were well-equipped except for a lack of headlamps. The four had become trapped on Camel’s Hump by darkness.

The hikers had called 911 to request a rescue as they attempted to hike down the Dean Trail to the Monroe Trail then to the Duxbury trailhead where they [said they] had parked their car.”

The rescue team hiked up the trail and found the hikers at 8:06 p.m., the report continues. “Each was provided with a headlamp and guided the rest of the way down Camel’s Hump.”

But the hikers’ adventure didn’t end there. 

“Upon arrival at the trailhead in Duxbury, the hikers stated they did not recognize the area and did not find their car,” Lindner explains. 

As it turns out, the group had parked and set off on their hike from the Burrows Trail trailhead on the Huntington side of the mountain. 

“WBRT members escorted the hikers to Waterbury where they summoned an Uber to carry them back to their car. The rescue was completed at 9:35 p.m.”

‘Headlamp, headlamp, headlamp’ 

The Waterbury team’s rescue call happened on what was also a busy weekend for Stowe Mountain Rescue. In a Sunday post on their social media, the Stowe responders shared information about recent calls to assist people exploring on Mt. Mansfield with tips on how to best prepared. 

“This is a difficult time of year as it looks and feels like Fall in town but is very much Winter at elevation,” the post notes. “For anyone contemplating a mountain foray, layers are crucial.”

The account goes on to explain a call to assist “some very cold hikers who had been unexpectedly detained on the mountain, through no fault of their own.”

Sometimes, the hike that happens isn’t what was planned. “It’s easy to set out with a quick up/down excursion in mind, but you always need to be prepared for the unexpected.  Remember that cotton sweatshirts don’t count as an extra layer. That fabric gets wet and you’ll quickly discover what cold feels like. Fleece or wool are a better option, with an additional waterproof outer layer of course,” the post details. 

Another suggestion for varying conditions: microspikes for navigating ice from now through springtime. “Throw them on and bingo, you have traction,” the Stowe Rescue experts advise. 

The post ends with one last tip that the Camel’s Hump group could have used: 

 “Final word – the days are getting shorter. Headlamp, headlamp, headlamp!”