Hiker rescued at Delaware Water Gap

“http://www.mcall.com/news/local/all-a1_3rescue.4568270jun27,0,6145433.story?coll=all-news-hed

Hiker rescued at Delaware Water Gap
A 2nd person missing at recreation area. Teams called from 2 states. Body found on Appalachian Trail.

By Steve Esack
Of The Morning Call

In a relatively short amount of time Sunday in and around Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area, a hiker was severely injured in a fall, another got lost, a family stumbled upon a dead body and two volunteer firefighters who attempted to help the fall victim got lost themselves.

''I can't wait until next weekend,'' Portland EMS volunteer David Prell said about 4:45 p.m.

Five hours later the efforts were still going on in three counties in two states, a total of seven hours after it all started.It was the first full weekend of summer. The incidents took place in 10 mile radius.

Monroe County dispatch center received the first call at 2:11 p.m. from Lee Blaney, 22, a Lehigh University student. Blaney and five friends were ending a weekend camping trip with a hiking expedition at the national park. One member of their party, Greg Kane, 21, of Doylestown lost his grip while scaling a shale rock with a 30-degree slope, and slid on his belly for about 50 feet before Blaney lost sight of him in woods.

''He stopped and you could tell he got a little scared because his limbs started to shake,'' said Blaney, of Philadelphia. ''He slid down on his belly, and he kept his cool and tried to grab onto a tree, but I don't know if it pulled out or what. I just kept saying 'Oh my God, oh my God, oh my God.'''

Blaney went for help while the other hikers — Dawn Liberto, 22, of Allentown, a Moravian College student; Alex Grosskurth, 21, of Ambler, a Lehigh University student; Brian Dunst, 21, of Chalfont, and Matthew Hall, 21, of Dublin — tended to Kane.

Blaney bushwhacked and ran his way to his car, parked near the old Slateford Farm, off National Park Drive in Upper Mount Bethel Township, Northampton County, and dialed 911 on his cell phone. The call went to Monroe County dispatch, which called Northampton County authorities for assistance at 2:35 p.m.

Two search parties, coordinated by national park ranger Karl Merchant, traveled up the mountain from Route 611 in Northampton County, near the Point of the Gap Overlook parking area. As they went up, a high-altitude rescue team from the national park service was driving across the mountain top and then hiking to the location in an effort to to rappel 60 to 100 feet down to get Kane and then hoist him back up so a helicopter could land nearby.

Twenty-five minutes after Monroe County's assist call, volunteers from Delaware Water Gap Volunteer Fire Department, Portland Hook and Ladder Company, Portland Fire and Rescue, Suburban EMS, Mount Bethel Volunteer Fire Company, and Portland EMS heard a second call for help. Another report of a lost hiker, stranded after his rope snapped, began to crackle over their radios at 3 p.m.

This hiker was somewhere on a ridge across the Delaware River, on the Warren County, N.J., side of the park. The rescuers grabbed binoculars and trained them up the ridge, across from the Point of the Gap Overlook, at what they thought was a white shirt directly across from their command post.

''We get about 50 to 60 hikers, day and night, every weekend,'' said Merchant. ''We get about four falls a year. We've had multiples [rescues] before, never me personally.''

At 4:20 p.m. a New Jersey State Police helicopter flew along the ridge, looking for the New Jersey hiker as Mount Bethel Fire Chief Brian Labare, from Route 611, directed the helicopter toward the white object.

''The helicopter's getting a lot of wind bluff off the mountain so he can't get too close,'' Labare said at 5:45 p.m.

Fifteen minutes later, another call sounded through the emergency radios. This one was just outside the park's boundaries, at the south entrance to the Appalachian Trial on Route 191 in Upper Mount Bethel Township.

Troy Leighton of Pen Argyl and his three children found a dead body in the woods, about 50 yards from the entrance. Pennsylvania state police, the North Bangor Fire Department and a national park ranger responded at 6 p.m. Northampton County Coroner Zachary Lysek declined to release details except to say the body was a male.

Three hours later, Northampton County dispatch radioed a call of two missing firefighters near the Point of the Gap. At 9:36 p.m. all firefighters were off the mountain and the search was called off for the hiker on the New Jersey side.

At 10:25 p.m. Kane was in an ambulance being driven to a medical helicopter waiting at Totts Gap Road in Monroe County.

Kane suffered a stomach puncture, head wound, and broken bones, according to Delaware Water Gap Fire Chief Howard Ike.

''He's in real bad shape,'' Ike said.

steve.esack@mcall.com

610-559-2151”

“What the? Talk about bad things happening in threes!”

“Rangers just love summer!”

“I would have thought it near impossible to need rescue in the Water Gap.”

“proof ..when it rains it pours.”

“it is the NJ devils fault

I have been saying that all along

what a weekend!”

“holy #&%!$!”

“One of my highschool classmates (hiking club)died on the Delaware Water Gap many, many moons ago. They put a memorial to him in the yearbook.”

“People gotta stop fallin' off them cliffs up there. That just can't be good for the body...

No, but all kidding aside, that really sucks; this sort of thing can happen to anyone. Those rocks up there on Tammany (NJ) and Minsi (PA) are pretty steep and then just kind of drop off, and you really gotta get down them a bit to really get the good views...”

“Officials at the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area are still puzzling over the call they got Sunday about a missing hiker.

As police, rescue workers, and park rangers were retrieving a hiker who had been injured, they heard a call for another hiker who was stranded when his rope snapped. But after searching for more than six hours, they found no hiker.

''It's kind of a curious case,'' said Malcolm Wilbur, chief of administration at the park.

He said rangers searched from one end of the park to the other, and found no one. They checked all the cars in the parking lots, and couldn't find any whose owners were unaccounted for. Wilbur said the park has called off the search, but is still investigating.

Sunday was a busy day in and near the park. In addition to the injured hiker and the search for a missing hiker, police also got a call reporting the discovery of a dead body on the Appalachian Trail, just outside the park boundary.

Northampton County Coroner Zachary Lysek said he will disclose the identification of the body after the family is notified and an autopsy is finished, which could take two days.”

“Update to the dead guy. (my wife works with the guy who found him). Dead guy is not a hiker. He shot himself in the head, and was there for about 4-5 days. He was off the trail. One of Troy's (the guy who found him)
kids saw something that looked like a pile of garbage and smelled bad. Troy walked over and found him and called 911.”

“That's a lovely surprise for the children.”

“"Blaney and five friends were ending a weekend camping trip with a hiking expedition at the national park."

expedition? National Park? Wow, Mt Minsi has come a long way.

The trails on Minsi and Tammany are pretty darn safe, if ya stay on the trail. If that group started from Slateford Farm, they must have attempted to bushwhack/scramble up the east side of Minsi. There are trails in the valley, but I'm not aware of any trails that go up to Minsi.

That's bizarre about the lost hiker on Tammany. If his rope snapped, I would assume he was climbing the rocks above rt 80. Maybe he rolled all the way down to the highway and got dragged to Columbia by a semi. ;o)

Yikes about the dead guy! That's less than a mile from the Kirkridge Sheleter, and wasn't there a dead body found near there last year or so?”

“yeesh 2 dead bodies in a year, I'm not hiking that stretch of trail by myself. Pennsy, I guess you're going to have to do it again.”

“by the way, I'll be on Tammany (via a trail) tomorrow after work. I ususally keep an eye out for bear, rattlers, and other critters, but I'll keep the other eye out for fallen hikers, climbers and dead dudes.”

“LOL ENS - Well, I've told you that I would do 191 to Minsi again and again, but you are on your own from 191 to Wind Gap. The body was found on that stretch, just south of 191. See, I told you that section sucks.”

“Todd promised to do it again. I think I am going to do from Wind Gap to Water Gap as an overnighter, maybe you can hook up with us for the 191 to Watergap stretch. I'd like to finish the PA AT in the Delaware River Water Gap. That would be really cool. I am hoping to do that stretch in the fall.”

“I'm planning on a solo trek from dunnfield creek to crater lake this weekend. I've done the Pennsy loop with Backslacker but, have never been past sunfish pond on the AT. I welcome any tips or suggestions (what to see, what not to do, etc.) I figure it's about 23 miles one way, over three days it shouldn't be that bad.”

“That's a nice hike. Do you mean Crater Lake or Culver's Lake at Culver's Gap? Culver's is about 27 miles from the DWG and Crater a bit under 20.

There are some nice views beyond Sunfish Pond, and the forecast looks great for this weekend. As far as the Dunnfield Creek Trail, I was able to hike it for the first time since Ivan last year. They rebuilt only one of the bridges (the one just before the blue dot trail), but the other stream crossings were really easy. This was last week and the creek was very low, so it could change if it gets a lot of rain this week. The washed out part of the trail is passable, but I'd be leary of a slide if it's really wet. All the "closed trail" signs were down, but I have a feeling they were torn down and that the trail is still officially closed. I guess you'll have to use your judgement. I'll probably be on it tomorrow so I can report more about it. I'll try to stop by the visitor's center and inquire.

As far as camping, you'll start to see some small sites as yout get closer to Camp Mohican, which is about 9 miles from the Gap. When you cross the Camp road, there is the option to avoid the steep climb to the ridge by walking up the road through the camp, and taking a right on the Rattlesnake Swamp trail up to the ridge. You could also grab a snack, a beverage and rewater at the camp also.

If you skip that option and stay on the trail, you'll get some nice views when you get to the top and hike across the ridge. Plus, being solo, it might be nice to camp along the ridge. I did this last year and found a nice little spot 50' off the trail. The view and breeze was great. I'd water up when you cross the stream by the camp road though.

If you get as far as the Catfish Fire Tower (11-12 miles from the Gap), you'll find some nice campsites on the right before and after the tower. No water up there though. Either water up back at the camp road crossing, or you continue past the tower, downhill on the trail about .5 mile until you reach the north end of the Rattlesnake Swamp Trail. Turn left and you'll see spring within 100 yds. It might be dry though.

If you are going beyond Crater Lake, there are some nice campsites near the Buttermilk Falls Trail (about 19 miles from the Gap). If the streams crossing the trail are dry, you may have to hike down the Falls trail for water.

Four miles past the Falls trail is the Brinks Lean-to, and that would leave only about 4 miles to Culver's Gap. If you get to Culver's Gap, a stop at the Worthington Bakery is a must! I hope it's still open so if you get there, please report back on that.

Enjoy the hike!”

“Thanks for all the great info.
I was wrong on my mileage Est. The mileage chart I used started from the park border in PA an extra 5 miles. Don't think I'll make it to the bakery this trip but, sounds worth checking out in the future. The tips on camp sights and where to find water will be a big help. Can't wait to hit the trail, thanks again for all the help.”

“that's Pennsy Country”

“It wasn't today. A nasty storm moved in just as I was leaving work. No Tammany for me today. *sniff*”

“that nasty storm really scoffed up my commute home! Bastard storm. However, now the waterfalls on the Loyalsock Trail might not be so dry. :) I think there is supposed to be a shower tomorrow and on friday too. Angel Falls may look pretty nice this weekend.”

“Oh Boo-Hoo...

Anyone want to head out that way for a day hike on Monday, or are all you junkies doing the Loyalsock thing? :)

Talk to me...”

“maybe, possibly, perhaps, what did you have planned?”

“Oh you know, the standard Tammany-Turquoise-Sunfish-AT afternoon loop...

You down?”

“Oh.....What's that loop called again?



*I'm thinking Maybe a Minsi/Tammany Combo tune up for ADK? Prolly have to be early morn though.
last edited: 6/29/05 9:58:59 PM”

“to be precise, it's the Tammany Red Dot - Tammany Blue Dot - Tammany Fire Road - Turquoise - Sunfish Fire Road - Turquoise - Appalachian - Dunnfield Creek Trail.

I kinda like the shorter, cooler name.

I'd join ya Soul Man, but we'll still be Loyalsocking on Monday.”

“LOL
;-)”

“Ya Loyalsock junkie...”

“"I'm thinking Maybe a Minsi/Tammany Combo tune up for ADK?"
BackSlacker

Why, that's the "Pennsy Twin Tower Double Loop Hike." ;o)

Ya do the Tammany Red Dot up, down the Blue Dot. about 3.5 miles. Hop in the car, scoot over the bridge, hike to Minsi via the AT and hike down via the fire road. that's about 4-5 miles.

Look out for broken ropes, lost hikers on Tammany, fallen hikers on Minsi, and the occasional dead body.”

“Yeah, well when you live in Jersey, it's all in a day's hike...”

“What, no toxic slug or hospital waste?”

“please folks, a moment of silence for the fallen comrades. :]”

“I'm a no go for Monday :-( Too much family stuff to do. Bummer, have fun!”