Hiking Turned Into a Nightmare for a 20-Year-Old Who Fell Unconscious in Maine’s Wilderness

There is great thrill and adrenaline involved in the activity of hiking. Scaling the picturesque mountains amidst beautiful backdrops and challenging climbs, people venture out in large numbers during the weekends to connect with nature and get their adrenaline pumping.

A weekend hike to the Mount Katahdin does not sound like a terrifying experience but one filled with adventure and joy! A group of six friends set out on a Saturday adventure to the climb the summit, in hopes of coming back with a feeling of triumph and success but there were other plans in store for them.

Hiking to Mt Katahdin leaves one unconscious

The group of six friends set out on their expedition in great spirits and enthusiasm but their fun and joyful weekend getaway quickly turned into a nightmare. One of their friends, aged 20, fell unconscious as the group made their way to the summit, through the notorious Knife Edge Trail.

Looking at their unconscious friend, panic kicked in within each and every person and they made a call to the emergency services. A ranger found their way to the crew but the extreme conditions at play made any rescue effort close to impossible.

Battling with gusty winds and drastically low temperatures, the rescue team sent two additional members for their aid.

The extreme conditions meant that the group of friends and rangers crew had to find shelter in the narrow and treacherous path and they managed to do to so, temporarily.

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The dangers of Knife Edge Trail

With the help of the Maine’s National Guard, the 20-year-old was airlifted the next morning and transferred to a medical center in Bangor. The rest of her crew were taken back to their cars with the help of the North Search and Rescue team.

The condition of the hiker is still unknown but she was transferred to a better facility, more equipped to handle and monitor her health situation. The woman was released from the emergency room but her current condition is still unknown.

The allure and grandeur of Mount Katahdin has attracted people from all over the world to hike the mountain for the beautiful scenery but Knife Edge has proved to be a thorn for many. Although it is only 1.1 miles long, the trail is a highly challenging and technical hike.

A person required great focus, agility and level-headedness to hike the dangerous trail, that at some point has paths as narrow as four-feet with a 2000ft drops on either side. Another reason that makes the trail a difficult path, is the extreme weather conditions and their unpredictability.

The Knife Edge Trail is certainly not for the faint-hearted or weak-minded but if one walks through all the difficulties, the 360 degree view of the astonishing trail and inner basins, is a sight to behold. The beauty of the view makes all the difficulties worth it in that moment.

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