Press Releases

Contact: Edie Smith, Spokesperson
Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife
284 State Street
41 State House Station
Augusta, ME 04333


Telephone: work (207) 592-4348

Fax: (207) 287-6395

August 15, 2010

Blue Hill Woman Seriously Hurt on ATV

Augusta, Maine - A 28-year-old Blue Hill woman seriously injured both legs -- her right leg severely -- and needed to be rescued off the Appalachian Trail this evening (Aug. 15).

Jody Rackcliffe, 28, of Blue Hill had fallen when hiking the steep, rugged terrain of Gulf Hagas. She was in an area known as Gulf View, approximately 2.5 miles in on the rim trail, according to Game Warden Roger Guay.

The injury occurred at approximately 11 a.m. A friend hiked back to the Katahdin Iron Works Gate, and a rescue call was then made to Piscataquis County Sheriff's Office at 2 p.m. The Maine Warden Service and other rescuers immediately were contacted.

Approximately 15 rescuers responded to assist in the carry out. Greenville Fire and Rescue, as well as Milo Fire and Rescue, Greenville Police Department and Maine Forest Service Rangers.

Ms. Rackcliffe was carried about a mile and a half to a landing zone where a Maine Forest Service helicopter met rescuers at 6:50 p.m. She was flown to Eastern Maine Medical Center in Bangor.