Click here to subscribe today or Login.
By LAUREN ROTH lroth@leader.net
Sunday, March 16, 2003 Page: 4A
EXETER – Two teenage girls were pulled out from the base of a steep hill
Saturday evening by firefighters about 2 1/2 hours after getting stuck there,
said Fire Chief Donald Skursky.
Taking a walk with the teen brother of one of the girls, the trio got to a
precarious, isolated spot along the stone cliff ledge near state Route 92. The
girls were frightened and couldn’t get out, but the boy escaped and called for
help at about 4:30 p.m. However, Skursky said, he didn’t know exactly where
they were.
Five area fire crews got involved and three separate teams were sent to
look for the girls in a milelong area north of Mama Nick’s Cafe. They were
found about 1,000 yards from route 92 above a steep hill and below another on
rocky, leafy, muddy ground, Skursky said.
One firefighter spotted the girls, who are about 13, about 5:30 p.m. across
from Campbell’s Ledge and told them to stay put.
The spot was “most assuredly” isolated, Skursky said.
Other crews tried to reach the girls from above and below. It took the West
Wyoming rescue crew an hour to get three-quarters of the way up the lower hill
because it was so steep, Skursky said.
The first firefighter to spot them eventually reached the girls. He also
lit a fire to help keep them warm. Ropes were thrown down by crews from above,
and the firefighter attached them to the girls and himself. The girls were
“partly walked, partly lifted” up the side of the cliff about 7 p.m.
Area volunteers brought the girls down the then-darkened hill on quads –
four-wheel drive, off-road vehicles. No other vehicles could reach them.
Police directed traffic on the ground.
Lauren Roth, a Times Leader staff writer, may be reached at 829-7218.