Hiker rescued after 20-foot fall on Katahdin

By Christopher Burns, Bangor Daily News Staff

A hiker was rescued Sunday morning, June 28 after a 20-foot fall on Katahdin.

Mateo Rivera, 26, of Portland was traversing the Knife Edge, near Pamola Peak, when he fell while climbing out of the Chimney Notch, a steep part of the trail, according to Baxter State Park Director Kevin Adam.

During the fall, Rivera sustained several injuries, including a serious open fracture to the lower leg.

A nearby hiking party alerted authorities to the fall about 9:45 a.m., Adam said Monday morning.

Park rangers reached the hiker and stabilized him. Clouds and stormy weather delayed forest rangers in reaching Rivera via helicopter.

But after two attempts, Rivera was lifted off the mountain about 2 p.m. and brought to a waiting ambulance.

That was the third rescue on Katahdin in a week and comes just days after a pair of Virginia men got caught in a thunderstorm on Katahdin on a difficult stretch of trail known as the “Flat Iron.” They were airlifted off the mountain Thursday after a rough overnight stay there.