Namu Sampath
masslive.com
(TNS)
HOLYOKE — Late Monday night, the city’s Fire Department reported that it had rescued a stranded hiker from Mount Tom.
The incident is far from the first time a hiker has gotten lost or stuck there, said Capt. David Rex, the public information officer for the Holyoke Fire Department.
“It happens probably once a week, even in the winter,” he said.
Rex said the hiker, who was rescued at around 10:30 p.m., didn’t plan his trip accordingly.
“It got dark quickly, and he got lost on the trails,” Rex said.
The hiker was not injured and was found after a “short search,” the department said in a Facebook post.
Rex said that there are roughly 20 miles of trails on the mountain, but was unsure how many trails there are.
“A lot of the trails criss-cross with each other, making it difficult for hikers who are unfamiliar with the terrain,” he said.
He said the terrain varies greatly, depending on the side of the mountain a hiker is on.
From Route 141 in Easthampton, the terrain is “loose shale,” he said. “You’re basically hiking a cliffside,” whereas the Route 5 side is slightly easier for people to climb.
Rex said the hiker called 911 to be rescued. He said that it can sometimes be difficult to pinpoint the location of a caller, because of the cell tower atop Mount Tom.
“We use a drone program in Holyoke that uses thermal imaging to help locate people who get lost,” he said.
The state’s Department of Conservation and Recreation oversees the mountain.
A spokesperson for the department said hikers should stick to designated trails, be aware of the weather and trail difficulty ratings, and should share their plans with someone before setting out.
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