STANTON, Ky. (WKYT) – Search teams from Powell and Wolfe Counties worked together on Saturday to help a hiker who took a fall on Martins Fork Trail and couldn’t walk out on his own.
A post on the Wolfe County Search & Rescue Facebook page says they got the call around 2:30 p.m. Two teams hiked in and found the injured man directly below Military Wall, north of Nada Tunnel.
Due to the cold temperatures, crews wrapped the man in a thermal wrap and then carried him out. No word on the extent of the hiker’s injuries.
Lisa Johnson, with Powell County Search & Rescue, says, “He stayed pretty dry, he was under the ledge and of corse its cold, but they found him immediately so he wasn’t that far in thank goodness. He was smiling they said and really when he came down he was fine.”
Powell County Search & Rescue posted a message on their Facebook page reminding hikers that trails are very slippery right now, and advising that anyone on the trails should stay far back from cliff ledges.
“Trees are falling, coming here today on the back roads we had a rock slide so, there’s a lot of elements out there you have to look for when you’re out hiking and I mean you can have the best of shoes on be the best hiker, doesn’t mean you’re not going to fall”, says Johnson.
Along with hikers practicing safety on the trails, Johnson also suggest that you should always be prepared by packing essentials ahead of time. Johnson says to always have a blanket, snacks, and water with you on any hike in case you get hurt or lost on a trail.
“A lot of people said ‘well I didn’t expect this to happen’. No one expects it to happen but it does so just be ready.”
This month, Powell County Search & Rescue are celebrating their 6th anniversary since the organization was formed and started saving hikers. Congratulations to their team!