Three Appalachian Trail hikers, including two who had been missing since Tuesday, were located safe Thursday on a flooded portion of the trail in Maine.

Amy McConaughy, 27, of Belair, Maryland, and Kelly Wood, 25, of Nokesville, Virginia, were stranded on a portion of the trail near Blanchard because of flooding on the east branch of the Piscataquis River after heavy rains this week, according to the Maine Warden Service.

The two women were found about 9 a.m. Thursday by Maine game wardens and two searchers with Mount Desert Island Search and Rescue near where the trail intersects the east branch of the river.

Searchers also located another stranded hiker, Gabrielle Grace, 26, of Baltimore, Maryland.

All three women were cold and wet but all had supplies. A Maine Army National Guard Black Hawk helicopter used an air rescue basket to lift the three hikers out of the flooded area to a nearby field.

Two of the women had been dropped off Monday morning in Caratunk by Wood’s father and planned to come out Tuesday evening in Monson. But they never showed up, and Wood’s father called the warden service Wednesday afternoon.

A northbound hiker told officials he had seen the two women Tuesday evening about a mile southwest of the Horseshoe Canyon lean-to.

The northbound hiker said he crossed the east branch of the river, which was over his waist and flowing heavily, Wednesday morning. The search for the two women focused on that area after it was clear they had likely become stranded near the lean-to.

Both women had begun their hikes in Georgia, at the trail’s southern end. McConaughy started her hike on April 1, and Wood started on April 3. The women became friends while hiking.

Grace began her hike on March 9 in Georgia.

The warden service advises all hikers on the trail that rivers are currently high and dangerous, and they should carry communication devices.

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