Backcountry teams assist multiple lost hikers on Camel’s Hump
October 14, 2026 | By Lisa ScagliottiLocal backcountry rescue teams have been busy in recent days assisting hikers who have lost their way on Camel’s Hump.
A Saturday hike by a family from Boston turned into a 911 call on the way down from the summit when a 12-year-old became separated from the group.
Vermont State Police received the call just before 6 p.m. The girl’s mother told dispatch that four of the group members were on the Monroe Trail and the youngster had apparently followed a different trail on their descent and had not been seen since 4:30 p.m.
Given that the call involved a missing person, state police coordinated the response, sending their Search and Rescue personnel as well as calling Waterbury Backcountry Rescue, Huntington Search and Rescue, and Camel’s Hump Rescue to join the search.
The local teams were activated by 6:35 p.m., according to the Waterbury team, with a total of about 17 rescuers in all from the local teams. They divided to approach the area of the mountain from multiple directions.
Rescuers determined that the girl took a wrong turn away from the family at a junction of the Monroe Trail and Bamforth Ridge/Long Trail. As daylight faded, she became stranded.
At 7:33 p.m., Waterbury Backcountry Rescue Captain LaRose heard rustling 20 to 30 yards off the trail. After calling out, he successfully located the girl, who was uninjured, according to the report.
After equipping her with a headlamp, LaRose accompanied the young hiker down and reunited her with her family before 8 p.m. Her father was the last hiker to descend as he had remained higher on the mountain in cellphone contact with rescue team members. He had a headlamp, but was making slow progress in the dark, according to the report. Two members of the Camels Hump team caught up with him at 9:22 p.m. and escorted him back down Bamforth Ridge to the base by 11 p.m.
The rescue teams headed home shortly afterward, the report noted.
The Waterbury Backcountry Rescue Team thanked all of the responders for their cooperation on this call, which they said was “highly efficient” and ended with everyone returning to the trailhead safely.
Their key reminder from the incident is for hikers to be aware of how rapidly trail conditions change when darkness falls. “Hikers are strongly encouraged to carry reliable illumination (such as headlamps), remain grouped at major trail junctions, and stay in place if lost or trapped by darkness,” the rescue team said.
They also stressed the importance of staying together and carefully reading trail signs, particularly at intersections.
Monday: Lost hiking group led back to safety
A Monday hike went awry for a group of six hikers on Camel’s Hump, prompting another multi-agency response to find them and lead them to safety.
At 1:33 p.m., Vermont State Police notified the Waterbury Backcountry Rescue Team to assist with finding the lost hiking party.
According to the Waterbury team's report of the rescue, the rescue crew used one of the hikers’ phones to determine the party’s location as being off the west side of the Long Trail about halfway up the mountain.
The Waterbury team coordinated with Huntington Search and Rescue and Richmond Rescue’s Camels Hump Backcountry Rescue Team to launch two rescue parties.
One team proceeded up from the Duxbury side of the mountain via the Monroe Trail. The second team ascended from the Huntington side via the Forest City Trail.
At 3 p.m., the lost party reported to the searchers by cell phone that they had found the Forest City Trail and would follow it down toward Huntington. They said they were unhurt but were cold, with little food or water. About 20 minutes later, the rescue team hiking up from Huntington found the lost group and guided them safely back to the base, the report details.
Rescuers remind hikers to always bring adequate food, clothing, lighting, and water as daytime conditions turn dark and cold quickly this time of year. Hikers also are reminded to stay on established trails.