WELD — The Maine Warden Service rescued a New Jersey family Saturday night after the five people had gotten stranded at the summit of Tumbledown Mountain in Weld.
Don Lantona, 53, and his wife, Meena, 52, along with their children Ashley, 22, Meaghan, 20, and Connor, 18, all from Freehold, New Jersey, had climbed to the top of Tumbledown Mountain, where they became stranded, according to Mark Latti, communications director for the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife.
“Due to the snow and ice at the summit, they could not find the trail head to descend back down the mountain,” Latti said.
Latti said the family members, who were not wearing proper clothing for the temperature Saturday night and not carrying enough food, water or lighting to climb down the mountain, called 911 at 6:46 p.m. Saturday.
With windy conditions and temperatures in the low 30s on the mountain late Saturday, game wardens and other rescue workers hiked up the mountain and found the family huddled for warmth.
“After starting a fire and warming several members of the family, rescuers and the family hiked back down the mountain, getting to the base at approximately midnight,” Latti said.
Latti and others said the family was “not prepared for the conditions they experienced on the hike.”
“There is still ice, snow and subfreezing temperatures on the trails of many Maine mountains,” Game Warden Sgt. Scott Thrasher said. “These conditions can be extremely dangerous for those who are unprepared.”
Along with the Maine Warden Service, the Weld Fire Department and Franklin Search and Rescue assisted in the rescue.
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