BANGOR DAILY NEWS • December 1, 2021
As soon as Matt Harris and Alan Dudley reached the spot atf Aroostook State Park’s South Peak Trail where a hiker had fallen 40 feet, the first thing they thought was: we’re going to need more people. Zara Gillis, 37, of Caribou had hiked a half mile up the trail on Friday afternoon with her sister and two children when she slipped on snow-covered leaves. Presque Isle firefighters and paramedics Harris and Kasey Blue rushed to the park after receiving a 911 call and shortly met up with Dudley, a Maine game warden, and park rangers. Though Dudley requested helicopter assistance, he and Harris knew that the strong winds and blowing snow would make visibility impossible for the Maine Forest Service or Maine National Guard.