Another Linville Gorge Rescue

“"Rescue teams bring hikers out of gorge

From Staff Reports
news@morganton.com
Wednesday, March 7, 2007

Crews from Burke County rescued three stranded hikers out of Linville Gorge Tuesday night, rappelling hundreds of feet to get to the three.
All of the hikers walked out of the gorge with help from rescuers.

Burke County Emergency Operations Center received a call at 7:37 p.m. on Tuesday about three Appalachian State University students lost in the Linville Gorge/Linville Falls area, according to a press release from the operations center.

Joshua McCauley, 19, of Martinez, Ga.; Chris Hemmings, 18, of Winston Salem; and Anna Smith, 18, of Boiling Springs left the Linville Falls parking lot off Old N.C. 105 on Tuesday afternoon for a day hike, say officials with Burke's Emergency Management Services.

The three hikers had drinking water and cell phones with minimal battery length, according to the press release. McCauley was wearing shorts and sandals, Hemmings was wearing shorts, a hooded sweatshirt and tennis shoes. Smith was wearing a hoodie, jeans and tennis shoes.

Officials gave this account of what happened:

The students were trying to follow the trail back out of the gorge when night fell. They got lost in an area on the side of the river on a ledge and could not move. They were afraid they would make the wrong turn in the dark and fall.

That is when the hikers called 911. Rescue teams rappelled about 400 feet onto the ledge because that was the quickest way to get to them. The students were at risk for hypothermia.

The hikers were chilled but fine, all in good physical condition. They walked out with the help of the rescuers via the trail.

All three got back to the Linville Falls parking lot at 10:30 p.m.

Medical personnel examined the students, who appeared to be fine and refused any medical treatment. Thirty emergency workers from the following agencies helped with the rescue: Burke County Emergency Management, Burke County EMS, Burke County Special Operations Team, Jonas Ridge Fire Department, Burke County Rescue Squad and US Forest Service."

There ought to be a law against stupidity.”

“30 people * 4 hours * $30 /hour = $3600 ?
equipment rental = ?$400?

yep - the bill should to be about $4000 to $5000 - stick it to them”

“I can't help but wonder where these students were if the rescuers had to repel 400' to a ledge to get them. I can't seem to recall any ledges that close to the river with a 400' cliff above”

“The rescuers probably didn't really need to rapel. They just wanted to play with some of their toys. I'm surprised they didn't bring in a SWAT team just to make sure there were no terrorist kidnappers involved.”

“Its nice that they got out unharmed.”

“hope everyone is doin good.its been a crazy summer in the gorge.a few weeks agoe we had an escape convictand yesterday we had are forth chopper rescue.not many backpackers at all during the week though.if anyone is in the area and wants to hit the trail a day or 2 just holler.JB I folowed u out of Diamond Creek the other day you were on your cell phone drivin and swervin lol.don't forget the brown mtn light festival at wisemans in sept”

“Climber injured in fall

Pisgah rescue dangerous

Staff reports

Published: November 3, 2008

MORGANTON - Emergency crews made Sunday what they called a dangerous rescue of a climber in the Pisgah National Forest.
Justin Almers, 28, from Mebane fell while climbing the "Big Daddy Climb" near the North Carolina Wall, an area popular with expert level rock climbers. He remains in a Charlotte hospital in serious condition.
Maj. Ken Anthony with Burke County Emergency Services said the operations center received a 911 call at 3:29 p.m. Sunday informing them of the fall.
Almers and a friend, Chris Beaton, of Cary, were climbing when the accident occurred.
The caller reported Almers fell between 100 and 200 feet and remained suspended by rope approximately 200 feet from the bottom of the rock.
Emergency responders gained access from the Table Rock parking area, but it took four hours for advanced life support personnel to reach Almers.
He received life-threatening injuries and Anthony said rescuers made a decision to allow minimal personnel to the rock area due to visibility, height and dangerous rock cliffs.
Rescue technicians extricated Almers approximately 200 feet to a safe, workable area. A helicopter was called in to complete the rescue.
The NC Helo-Aquatic Technician Team was activated with members of the Burke County EMS Special Operations Team and a Ull-60 Helicopter from North Carolina National Guard, which was supported by NC Emergency Management utilized for the rescue mission.
Responders transported Almers to the Foothills Regional Airport, formerly known as the Morganton-Lenoir Airport, where he was flown to Carolinas Medical Center.
Anthony said multiple safety factors made this a serious, life-threatening mission.
Personnel allowed in the high-level work area were highly trained and experienced with the equipment.
Anthony said, "This rescue mission was one of the most advanced and demanding technical missions ever completed in this area simply due to the high level of hazards, large amount of equipment needed and the mechanism of injury the victim had experienced."
More than 100 personnel from the following agencies were involved: Burke County Emergency Services, Burke County EMS Special Operations Team, Burke County Rescue, Eastern Burke County Rescue, Oak Hill Fire and Rescue, Jonas Ridge Fire and First Responders, US Forest Service, NC Outward Bound School, NC Helo-Aquatic Rescue Technicians (NCHART), North Carolina National Guard, NC Emergency Management, NC Forest Service BRIDGE Program, Linville Central Rescue Squad, McDowell County Rescue Squad, Drexel Fire Department, Carolinas Medical Center in Charlotte and Burke County REACT.”

“Wow.”