SUN JOURNAL • July 15, 2021
Maine game wardens and about 35 first responders and volunteers rescued an Appalachian Trail hiker from North Carolina who fell Wednesday afternoon on Spaulding Mountain and injured his ankle. It was nearly a 10-hour rescue effort. Rescuers carried Richard Sullivan, 65, of Archdale, North Carolina, in a litter basket from the top of Spaulding Mountain to the summit of Sugarloaf Mountain in Carrabasset Valley. Warden Sgt. Scott Thrasher said, “Trail conditions were wet, rocky and steep. It was a great coordinated effort by all involved to get rescuers to the top of Sugarloaf and carrying Mr. Sullivan off the mountain. We have a great group of people in Franklin County to make rescue operations like this one run smooth.”