Thru-hiker injured on Day 28 prompts split

A thru-hiker's journey ended abruptly on Day 28 after a fall on Vermont's Camels Hump. The hiker, known as The Historian, injured his wrist on a wet rock, leading to a group split and an emergency evacuation aided by a trail angel.

After about an hour of travel, The Historian fell. He was found crumpled at the bottom of a large wet rock with his trekking pole and arm pinned underneath him. His leg was not injured, but his shoulder was pulled backward with a sharp, receding pain. Once untangled, he determined his wrist had taken the brunt of the impact, showing surface abrasions and deep pain.

The group hiked for another 30 minutes before stopping at a bailout junction to reassess. It was clear The Historian was hurt, with deteriorated hiking skill and persistent pain. First aid was administered using topical and oral NSAID pain relievers. Another hiker, Rock Rabbit, consulted by phone with a friend who is a paramedic. They used KT tape to fashion a splint for The Historian's wrist.

The split and evacuation plan

The group decided to split. One hiker would escort The Historian out, while Rock Rabbit would continue toward the planned stop at Montclair Lodge. "This means my thru is over," the escorting hiker said. Rock Rabbit responded with empathy: "I know."

The escort called friends in Barre, Vermont, for help, but they were hours away. A passing thru-hiker then offered a quicker solution. Her friend's mother, Janice, lived at the bottom of the bailout trail and could drive them to the hospital. Janice agreed to take them to the nearest hospital, about an hour away, as she had an appointment nearby. She warned the first half-mile of the bailout trail involved rocks and ladders before easing.

Gear was sorted. Rock Rabbit took food, a stove, a pot, and a Garmin device for SOS capabilities. The bear rope was split so each could lower a pack if needed. The escort left a note on Rock Rabbit's pack explaining the situation. Rock Rabbit carried The Historian's pack down the technical section, then returned for his own to continue to Montclair Glen Lodge ahead of expected rain.

The Historian was foggy but they moved effectively toward their waiting trail angel. A trail runner offered to carry The Historian's pack, but he declined, wanting to carry it himself as his arm was not swelling and he could still talk sensibly. Janice met them with additional first aid supplies and added an ice pack to the bandage. She was accompanied by her duck toller dog, Suki, who stabilized The Historian's arm during the drive and provided comfort. The drive to the hospital took about an hour on winding mountain roads.

Hospital care and aftermath

The Historian was admitted to Central Vermont Hospital in Berlin. An X-ray revealed his arm was sprained, not broken. The doctor advised taking it easy and said he could return to hiking in a couple of weeks if he felt like it.

After the split, the escorting hiker felt a mix of worry, pride, and confidence in Rock Rabbit's ability to continue as a seasoned thru-hiker. They used a map check-in system to message each other. The escort confirmed there was no break, and Rock Rabbit replied that he had reached Montclair Lodge before the rain started.

Rock Rabbit initially found the shelter's only tent platform taken. As the shelter became overcrowded and loud later in the evening, the caretaker rescued him, opening a closed tent site for a better night. After the emergency room visit, a friend who had finished a rehearsal drove to Berlin to pick up The Historian and his companion.

Trail context and hike details

The injury occurred on the 28th day of a thru-hike. The day's route spanned from Cowels Cove to Montclair Lodge, with a significant elevation change.

The final bailout spot for Camels Hump was 1.5 miles from the shelter where the group had slept the previous night. Their goal had been to reach Montclair Glen Lodge before the rain started. Rock Rabbit reached the shelter just in time.