A 38-year-old Waterville man who broke his ankle while hiking Sunday was carried out of a remote area near Gulf Hagas the following morning.
Joshua Steele was hiking the Rim Trail with friends near the Jaws Waterfall in Gulf Hagas around 4:30 p.m. when he slipped on some rocks, according to a news release Wednesday from the Department of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife. Gulf Hagas is a deep river gorge with a network of trails that cross rugged terrain.
One of the members of the group hiked out of the woods and called for help from the North Maine Woods gatehouse in KI Township, which is in the area of the Piscataquis County town of Greenville. Wardens responded along with several volunteers from the Appalachian Mountain Club and first responders from the CA Dean ambulance in Greenville as well as the Greenville Fire Department.
The rescuers reached Steele after dark. Once medical personnel stabilized the injured ankle, Steele was carried in a stokes litter about 2 miles over rough ground to meet a waiting all terrain vehicle, which brought him the last mile to a waiting ambulance at about 4:30 a.m. Monday.
He was taken to Northern Light CA Dean Hospital in Greenville, authorities said.
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