WELD, Maine - A family of five from Freehold Township had to be rescued from a mountain in Maine on Saturday after they became stranded at the freezing, snow-covered summit, authorities said.
The family had hiked to the top of Tumbledown Mountain located in western Maine about 90 miles north of Portland. But because of snow and ice at the roughly 3,000-foot peak, they could not find the trailhead to begin their trek back down, the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife said in a statement.
The family identified as Don Latona, 53, his wife Meena Latona, 52, daughters Ashley, 22, and Meaghan, 20, and their 18-year-old son Connor remained stuck at the summit as dusk was approaching and temperatures were dropping. They didn t have enough food, proper clothing or sufficient light to make it down the mountain themselves, authorities said.
A family and a hiker are safe after Maine Game Wardens and first responders executed two rescues in freezing temperatures Saturday night into Sunday morning.
Maine Warden Service rescues 2 sets of stranded hikers
Wardens said both parties – one on the Appalachian Trail and the other on Tumbledown Mountain – were unprepared for the snow, ice and cold weather they encountered.
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Two sets of hikers, including a man from Phippsburg, were rescued by state game wardens late Saturday night after they became stranded on a mountain peak and on the Appalachian Trail.
Christopher J. Lebel, 38, of Phippsburg was hiking south with his dog on the Appalachian Trail in Township E on Saturday when approximately 4 miles into his trip, he fell into the water, according to a news release from Mark Latti, spokesman for the Maine Warden Service.
Weekend Rescues Prompt Winter Weather Reminder to Hikers
The Warden Service is cautioning hikers to be prepared for winter weather, after two rescues over the weekend.
One rescue involved an Appalachian Trail hiker who wardens say probably wouldn t have survived the night, due to hypothermia. 38-year-old Christopher Lebel of Phippsburg was hiking on the trail with his dog on Saturday when, about four miles into his trip, he fell into the water. Lebel changed his clothes, but wardens say he was unable to get warm. He became hypothermic with below-freezing temperatures, windy conditions, and ice and snow on the ground. Lebel texted a friend that he needed help and they called 911 just before 10:00 Saturday night.
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