DEAD RIVER TOWNSHIP — A Florida man broke his shoulder while hiking the Appalachian Trail on Tuesday morning, creating a tricky situation for rescuers.

As of 5 p.m., paramedics and wardens were still determining how to get the man, Douglas Doane, 52, of Atlantic Beach, Fla., out of the Bigelow mountain range.

He fell and broke the shoulder about three miles from any road, in an area roughly one mile south of Avery Peak, said Lt. Adam Gormely, with the Maine Warden Service.

With only intermittent communication with those on scene, he said, the last update he received was when rescuers were trying to determine whether the man could walk out or if they had to carry him, Gormely said. Once he’s out, he’ll likely have to be taken by helicopter to a hospital.

In addition to rough terrain, rescuers were also confronted with a thunderstorm, Gormely said. He did not know precisely how Doane broke his shoulder, whether he was alone or how he got word out about his injury.

Doane was section-hiking the Appalachian Trail, Gormely said, meaning he is not hiking the entire trail at once, but is attempting different portions over time.

At roughly 2,180 miles, the Appalachian Trail is one of the longest continuously marked footpaths in the world, running from Georgia to Maine, according to the Appalachian Trail Conservancy.

Avery Peak is about 4,088 feet above sea level. Maine citizens established the 33,000-acre Bigelow Mountain Preserve by referendum in 1976.

Erin Rhoda — 612-2368

erhoda@centralmaine.com