SOUTH FORK, W.Va. — A West Virginia hiker is being treated at a Virginia hospital after slipping and falling on an ice-packed trail in Pendleton County Friday.
According to Pendleton County Emergency Management, the woman was hiking on the High Knob Trail on Shenandoah Mountain near the West Virginia-Virginia state line at about 6 p.m. when she slipped on packed ice and slid down steep terrain on the West Virginia side of the mountain.
First responders from both states responded. It took approximately five hours to pull the hiker to safety. A rope system was used by the Pendleton County Emergency Rescue -Tactical Skills Team.
A Facebook post from Pendleton County EM said, “The injured female hiker was brought to a waiting Pendleton County Emergency Rescue (PCER) ambulance and at 11:30pm is enroute to Rockingham Memorial Hospital in Harrisonburg, VA. We have no comment on her extent of injury. Her rescue involved several hundred feet of rope and several personnel and two well equipped UTVs.”
Authorities said the ice pack is dangerous. It’s the second rescue in the past two weeks.
“Outdoor adventurers are cautioned that this ice pack is no joke. If you aren’t prepared with proper gear to include ice cleats or crampons, it is suggested you refrain from entering the trails in this area,” Pendleton County Emergency Management said.