Wardens, volunteers help injured hiker off mountain

BOWDOIN COLLEGE GRANT EAST – A hiker who injured her ankle Saturday on Whitecap Mountain spent several hours on the mountain before game wardens and volunteers helped carry her out.

Donna Chule, 57, of Pittsfield was taken to Mayo Regional Hospital in Dover-Foxcroft with injuries that were serious but not life-threatening, Sgt. William Chandler with the Maine Warden Service said Sunday.

Chule and a companion were hiking a trail on Whitecap Mountain near the former Katahdin Iron Works site on Saturday afternoon when she fell and severely twisted her ankle, Chandler said.

“She was unable to make it down, so her companion hiked down, but she had to drive a little ways to find cell phone reception before she called 911,” the sergeant said.

Several game wardens went to assist, but it took some time for them to reach the area where Chule had been hiking. Chandler credited a group of high school students and their chaperones from Brewer who were camping in the area for helping to carry the woman out.

The woman finally was taken to a hospital at about 10 p.m., several hours after she initially fell.

“It was a pretty rugged trail and it wasn’t in great condition,” Chandler said. “This time of year, with wet rocks and falling leaves, things can get slippery.”

The warden sergeant said he had been involved in three separate incidents over the weekend in Piscataquis County in which hikers needed assistance.

erussell@bangordailynews.net

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