As is often the case, 2020 was another busy year for Graham County Rescue Squad personnel.
Missions began in May, when hikers often start venturing into the woods. Only one rescue involved local residents, as many from the tri-state area attempted to escape the isolation forced by the COVID-19 pandemic by venturing to Graham County:
* May 17: Two women from Rome, Ga. – ages 23 and 50 – became lost in Joyce Kilmer Forest. Tory Lynnes of the Graham County Rescue Squad found the women near Adam Camp Branch on the Naked Ground Trail.
* June 18: Part of a group of hikers from Cary became separated from the main party and became lost in the Slickrock area. Lynnes and Larry Stone found a woman who was severely dehydrated. After tending to the woman, the rest of the group was located.
* July 30: Rescuers were called to assist in getting a hiker from the Slickrock area that was dehydrated and disoriented. Lynnes, John Odom, Keith Eller, Ted Gibby, Frank Cline and Frank Cline V responded from Graham County. The 32-year-old male from Georgia was located around 10 p.m., in the vicinity of Fodderstack Mountain.
* Aug. 4: Another 32-year-old male – this time, from Tennessee – became lost on an extended hike from Beech Gap. Jeff and Nick Millsaps located the man in the Cold Branch area of Big Santeetlah.
* Aug. 8: A Murphy couple – ages 59 and 61 –became lost in Joyce Kilmer Forest. Lynnes located them near Fire Camp Branch on the Naked Ground Trail.
* Sept. 7: On Labor Day, a man and woman – both age 57, from Aragon, Ga. – became lost in Joyce Kilmer Forest. Lynnes located them near Indian Springs Branch on the Naked Ground Trail around 8 p.m.
* Sept. 9: Two local hikers – ages 44 and 12 –became lost on a hike from Maple Springs to Rock Creek. Eller located the pair in Deep Creek the following day.
* Sept. 16: Three women – ages 59, 62 and 65 –were hiking the Appalachian Trail when one of them fell, receiving lacerations to her face and head. Harold Sellers located the women near Yellow Creek Gap just before 7 p.m.
* Sept. 21: Three hikers from Crossville, Tenn. were rescued from the Appalachian Trail near Cheoah Bald, after being located by Lynnes and Brent Eller. One was suffering from multiple health issues.
* Sept. 27: A 21-year-old male from Athens, Tenn. – suffering from dehydration – was rescued near Harrison Gap, after being located by Lynnes.
* Oct. 5: A man was rescued in the Huffman Creek area after he took a wrong road and was stranded, after his vehicle became partially over an embankment. When Lynnes located the man, he stated that he was trying to get to Tellico Plains.
* Dec. 25: A family of four from Chicago was rescued from the Wolf Laurel area after being stranded in deep snow when their vehicle became stuck. Lynnes, Jeff Millsaps, Eller, Jamie Hyde and Heath Emmons were involved in the rescue.