In a bone-chilling rescue operation, 23 skiers and snowboarders, including six juveniles, were saved from the cold clutches of Killington's backcountry in Vermont. The ordeal began on January 20, when a report to the Killington Police Department alerted them to a group of 7-9 lost winter sports enthusiasts at around 2:30 p.m., as mentioned in a Facebook post by the department.
The situation escalated quickly after officers contacted Vermont State Police Search and Rescue Coordinator Drew Clymer and, through careful investigation, they realized a total of 21 individuals had become disoriented in the treacherous landscape, the waning daylight did little to aid as temperatures plunged, and these adventurers were in serious need of help, 12 members from Killington Search and Rescue (KSAR) braved a five-mile trek in the frigid wilderness to reach the lost party, their determination fueled by the urgent need for swift action.
The rescued group, some suffering from the early onset of hypothermia, found reprieve in the welcoming warmth of the Killington Fire Department's heavy rescue truck and the personal vehicles of KSAR team members as they waited for their transportation home. Just as the rescue team were about to consider their mission accomplished, another distress call pierced the cold air, two additional skiers had lost their way, and without hesitation, six KSAR members surged back into the embrace of the numbing forest, finding and guiding the skiers to safety by 7:30 p.m.
Accolades pour in for the selfless volunteers who responded swiftly to the call of duty, their efforts augmented by the collaboration of Killington Fire and Rescue, the ski patrol at Killington Resort, Rescue Inc., State PSAP/Dispatch, and other essential partners who were instrumental in navigating this complex and potentially deadly situation.
