Hiker dies in near AT/Race Brook Falls Sheffield MA

[Migrating Bird]

Sad news to report.

http://www.berkshireeagle.com/news/c...rail-sheffield

[turtle fast]

A sad story indeed as well as traumatic to the rescuers as well. Having been involved in an event just like this at Shining Cloud Falls in the Porcupine Mountains State Park in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan in the exact same situation where a hiker fell into the waterfalls gorge is a flashback. Luckily, that hiker lived with life long disabilities. It will be tough as he was with his brother and all they wanted to do was enjoy the outdoors.

[Driver8]

Having hiked that area 8 or 9 times in the past few years, I know it well and wonder where exactly this happened. The two most likely places, from the newspaper account, would be the upper high falls (second furthest upstream) or the lower high falls (furthest downstream). It sounds like he was scrambling up alongside one of those, which are "extra credit" moves to most hikers, or scooted too far out on the ledge above the upper falls and slipped. Lots of people scoot out as far as they dare there, and the fall would be about 75 feet.

It sounds like the brothers were either sectioning or thru-hiking and made a side trip to see the falls. Sad news.

[Cosmo]

Here is information from people on the scene today:

The two brothers were camped at Race Brook Falls campground along with the Trinity college leadership folks and the two brothers hiked down to check out the falls. They were together when one of them fell. The other brother went back and got the Trinity folks and they found the victim at the bottom of the upper falls where he died while they were attempting to help him.

Lots of local responders involved.

Cosmo

[Driver8]

Here is information from people on the scene today:

The two brothers were camped at Race Brook Falls campground along with the Trinity college leadership folks and the two brothers hiked down to check out the falls. They were together when one of them fell. The other brother went back and got the Trinity folks and they found the victim at the bottom of the upper falls where he died while they were attempting to help him.

Lots of local responders involved.

Cosmo

Thank you for the additional info, Cosmo. It sounded like the upper main falls from the description. If I had to guess, the victim tried to climb up the left (south) side of the falls from below. Very tricky, but doable - I've eyeballed it more than once but never tried it. Must have slipped and fell from there. Terrible news.