Last Updated on October 28, 2026 5:06 pm
LINVILLE, N.C. — Volunteer rescuers from Avery County carried a hiker in distress out of the woods on the Grandfather Trail Tuesday night, according to the Linville-Central Rescue Squad.
Members were alerted just after 8 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 27, to a hiker in distress on the trail. Two staff members from the Grandfather Mountain Stewardship Foundation were with the patient and requested assistance for a possible carry-out.
Volunteers from Linville-Central Rescue and the Linville Fire Department entered the woods shortly after 8:30 p.m. They brought water, electrolytes, food, extra clothing and blankets for the patient. Members assessed the patient’s vital signs, rewarmed the hiker and developed a plan to get the patient back to the parking lot.
Based on the patient’s condition, rescuers determined a carry-out was necessary. A second team was assembled and brought in additional gear, including a Stokes basket. Both teams worked together to package the patient and carry them across rugged terrain, arriving back at the parking lot around 10 p.m.
Rescuers offered a reminder for anyone heading into the backcountry: always have a plan, check the weather and bring extra clothing appropriate for the changing temperatures. It is important to stay together with your hiking companions, especially when nightfall is approaching, and to always carry the 10 essentials.
