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RescueOutcome: Rescued by SARFall

Rescue — Mount Lafayette, Jul 22, 2023

·Mount Lafayette·Old Bridle Path

67-year-old female from Wellsboro, Pennsylvania

On July 22, 2023, Kathleen Schnell, 67, slipped on wet rocks while descending Mount Lafayette near the summit at approximately 2:00 p.m., injuring her lower leg. Family members assisted her to Greenleaf Hut, then the group attempted to continue descending the Old Bridle Path unassisted before becoming exhausted and activating a Garmin inReach at 10:50 p.m. Conservation Officers and Pemi Valley Search and Rescue Team carried her out via litter, reaching the trailhead just before 3:00 a.m.

What we can learn

Appropriate footwear should be worn while hiking; hiking boots that provide support, protection, and traction are recommended, especially given rainy conditions causing slippery trails.

Contributing factors

Inadequate traction
Before you head out: check the forecast, carry the Ten Essentials, leave your plans with someone, and be willing to turn back. See current conditions for Mount Lafayette →

Other recorded incidents on Mount Lafayette

Part of the WMNF Hiker Incident Database. Every entry cites a primary or near-primary source; details are refined as the record is reviewed.