Archive for the ‘helicopter rescue’ Category

Thanking Smoky Mountains rangers for 35 years now

Thursday, December 3rd, 2009
In 1974, two Eagle Scouts ventured into the park over the Thanksgiving weekend to hike a section of the Appalachian Trail. They planned to hike from Davenport Gap to Newfound Gap. On their second night, and roughly half-way to their destination, an early winter blizzard began dumping several feet of snow and whipping up drifts nearly five feet high, causing the 15-year-olds to become stranded at the Tricorner Knob Shelter.

They stayed at that shelter for three days before being rescued by helicopter.

Every year since then, on December 3, the thankful parents of one of those boys visits park headquarters to deliver the finest Poinsettia plant that they could find in order to thank the rangers for their work.

Kurt Repanshek at the National Parks Traveler has a story about the parents delivering those Poinsettia's each year. You can also read more about the rescue from an article published in the Knox News earlier this year.


Jeff
HikingintheSmokys.com Detailed information on trails in the Smoky Mountains; includes trail descriptions, key features, pictures, video, maps, elevation profiles, news, and more.

Smoky Mountain Rental Cabins Cabin and chalet listings in the Smokies.

Posted in Eagle Scouts, Thanksgiving weekend, Tricorner Knob Shelter, blizzard, helicopter rescue, snow, storm, stranded | Comments Off