Father and Son Hikers Rescued in Smokies
April 06--A father and son were rescued Saturday morning after becoming separated and stranded amid dangerous weather overnight in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, officials said.
The two first became separated from a second son while hiking the 6.3-mile stretch from Derrick Knob Shelter to Spence Field Shelter on Friday night, according to Park Ranger Caitlin Worth.
"After leaving Derrick Knob, the weather deteriorated and the hikers were left traversing over rocky terrain in the dark, driving rain and thunderstorms," Worth said in a news release Sunday. "Only one member of the party made it to Spence Field Shelter as planned."
Appalachian Trail thru-hikers left Spence Field the next morning on the lookout for the two missing hikers and quickly found the son, who had a knee injury and was unable to walk unassisted, according to Worth.
Shortly thereafter, other hikers located the father farther north near Thunderhead Mountain.
Officials have not released the names or ages of either the father or son.
The father, who was suffering from exposure, was airlifted off the mountain by a Tennessee Highway Patrol helicopter and flown to McGhee Tyson Airport on Saturday night, and then taken to the University of Tennessee Medical Center by ambulance.
Two park rangers reached the son and brought him out of the backcountry on horseback. He then left via personal vehicle with his brother, who had made it out safely, Worth said.
Also on Saturday, Rangers rescued a 21-year-old hiker who had become lost overnight during the storms near Clingmans Dome. Officials said the hiker was wet and tired, but otherwise unharmed.
More details as they develop online and in Monday's News Sentinel.
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