Another accident with injuries at/near Laurel Fork Falls

[Tennessee Viking]

http://www.wjhl.com/story/25265149/w...ampaign=buffer

Woman reportedly injured after falling 30-feet near Laurel Fork Falls

Posted: Apr 16, 2014 3:34 PM EST Updated: Apr 16, 2014 3:40 PM EST By News Channel 11 Staff







CARTER COUNTY, TN (WJHL) - A woman reportedly fell about 30-feet near Laurel Fork Falls in Carter County Wednesday afternoon.
News Channel 11 learned around 3:15 p.m. Wednesday that rescue crews received a call around 1:30 p.m. about a woman with a possible broken leg, after she reportedly dropped 30-feet near the falls.
Crews traveled three miles by ATVs to reach the injured woman.
The woman was reportedly being “packaged” by rescue crews to be transported out of the area.
News Channel 11’s Mike Lamia is currently at the scene reporting on the incident.
Keep checking WJHL.com as the story develops.
Copyright 2014 WJHL. All rights reserved.

[Slo-go'en]

Slippery when wet. Wonder if this was a thru hiker or just a tourist or local climbing the rocks next to the falls for a better view. Never a good idea. I can't really remember if there was any place you could slip and fall 30 feet if you were on the trail.

[ChinMusic]

I can't really remember if there was any place you could slip and fall 30 feet if you were on the trail.

30 feet straight? Tinker Cliff?

I think there are plenty of places you would bounce more than 30 feet.

[Slo-go'en]

30 feet straight? Tinker Cliff?

I think there are plenty of places you would bounce more than 30 feet.

Tinker cliff yes, but this was Laural Fork Falls. Isn't that near Hampton, TN? The story was out of Johnson City, TN.

[Lugnut]

One mile north of Kincora on the trail.

[Jeff]

I find it fascinating that a hiker slips, falls and break her leg...that this event is newsworthy enough for TV coverage with a reporter "live on the scene".

[Lone Wolf]

I find it fascinating that a hiker slips, falls and break her leg...that this event is newsworthy enough for TV coverage with a reporter "live on the scene".

obviously you haven't been down around these parts

[ChinMusic]

Tinker cliff yes, but this was Laural Fork Falls. Isn't that near Hampton, TN? The story was out of Johnson City, TN.

Sorry, I read your post as trail in general.

I can see someone bouncing 30 feet on the steep area between the falls and Dennis Cove Rd. My guess would be they were off trail and climbing the rocks associated with the falls.

[Tennessee Viking]

The article claims it happened near the falls. If not the falls maybe Potato Top path just south of the stairs, the stairs, or Laurel Fork shelter cascades.

[Old Hiker]

I was worried about that stretch in 2012 - my ankles were pinging pretty good, though. It was raining and pretty wet. I thought that was one of the dumbest stretches of the Trail to date - down to the river, along it and then back up. The blue blaze "bad weather" trail section seemed to make more sense. Oh, well.

[Llama Legs]

We saw a thru hiker Saturday that had a broken wrist from a tumble at a waterfall. Just north of Damascus.

[Llama Legs]

We saw a thru hiker Saturday that had a broken wrist from a tumble at a waterfall. Just north of Damascus.

the hiker was just north of Damascus...not the waterfall

[mountain squid]

Well, per 'Super' Lumpy and Bob from Kincora, it was an overweight dayhiker. Apparently, she fell off the short blue-blazer that leads to the falls where there are lots of rocks. She had several broken bones and when the stokes litter arrived, they had to haul her out past the narrow ledge, back towards the Hampton blue-blazer. After the ledge, Lumpy returned to the Dennis Cove trailhead and the rescuers continued to haul her to wherever the ATV's were. I can't imagine where they got the ATV's to because there are 2 bridges to traverse, as well as a very narrow ledge on the blue-blazer. There is probably a swath cut through the woods now.

Check this video out to see how narrow the ledge is.



Quite an accomplishment!

But that is not where it ends for 'Super' Lumpy. Several days ago, another hiker arrived at Kincora and informed Lumpy of a hiker at White Rocks who wasn't feeling well. Lumpy donned his cape, and flew up the mountain and rendered what aid he could until the rescuers arrived. I think the hiker had something wrong with his small intestine and per Bob, the rescuers basically said that Lumpy might have saved the hikers life.

Kudos to Lumpy!

See you on the trail,
mt squid

maintenance videos

[Lugnut]

Only a small part of why Lumpy is admired by all of mankind. :-)

[dmax]

That rescue group has been on 3 out of five days. Busy year for them so far.

[WILLIAM HAYES]

the falls can be dangerous as I recall a man and his son drowned there several years ago It is a tight squeeze around the rocks