WCAX.COM Local Vermont News, Weather and Sports-Lost Hikers Walk Out Safe

Lost Hikers Walk Out Safe

Duxbury, Vermont - October 18, 2009

Two hikers are safe after they got stranded on Camels Hump overnight. The incident was the latest in an unusual string of mountain rescues this season.

Waterbury Back Country Rescue mustered a quick response and was preparing to bring in more responders. Fortunately, the extra help would not be needed. Another group of hikers equipped with a cell phone reported that the two lost ones were on their way down the Monroe trail, where they had started the day before.

Eighteen-year-old Giverney Welsh emerged from the woods, followed by her cousin, Katarina Welsh, 22, both from Laval, Quebec.

The pair said they were not prepared for an overnight, but they did have extra clothing. They decided to stay in a lean-to Saturday evening when it started getting dark. "We were scared when we heard a wolf," Giverney Welsh said. "We were more scared for our parents who were worried, probably. But we were ok."

The rescuers say the women in this case did the right thing by seeking shelter when they knew they couldn't get off the mountain before dark. But they say it's disturbing how many people go up Camels Hump unprepared. Brian Lindner of Waterbury Back Country Rescue said, "I hiked the mountain yesterday just for fun, and I was absolutely appalled at the number of people I saw going up that were grossly, inadequately unprepared."

This was rescuers' seventh response to Camels Hump this season. That's way above the average of two-to-four rescues per year. It appears that not enough hikers are following safety tips that could save their lives -- always carry enough gear to handle an overnight stay, even if it's not expected.

Andy Potter - WCAX News