Subzero Cold, High Winds Challenge Rescuers in Blue Ridge Parkway Rescue
AUGUSTA COUNTY, Va. — On Monday, multiple agencies battled severe weather conditions on the Blue Ridge Parkway to rescue an injured hiker.
On December 15, 2025, dispatchers were notified of the incident after the injured hiker was able to send a 911 text message at 5:41 a.m.
Because the exact location could not be determined from the initial message, Nelson County Emergency Communications notified the Virginia Department of Emergency Management, which deployed search-and-rescue teams.
Volunteers arrived throughout the morning and staged at the command post.
Snow and ice conditions along the Blue Ridge Parkway nearly doubled normal travel time.
Initial contact with the patient did not occur until 9 a.m.
With subzero wind chills and prolonged exposure, first responders built a fire to warm the patient before beginning the extraction — a step officials said was taken out of necessity due to extreme conditions.
Virginia State Police aviation crews from Chesterfield County were requested to conduct a hoist operation, but repeated attempts were aborted due to strong wind gusts.
The Virginia Army National Guard later dispatched a Black Hawk helicopter assigned to the Hoist and Rescue Technician (HART) mission, which launched at approximately 1 p.m.
By that time, crews were concerned the rescue could extend into darkness.
A decision was made to deploy all VDEM search-and-rescue personnel into the wooded area to assist teams already working to reach the patient.
With 32 responders on the trail, the extraction accelerated, and teams reached the parkway as the HART helicopter arrived.
The rescue mission lasted more than 10 hours. The patient was eventually transported to a hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
Responding agencies included:
Wintergreen Squad 1
Wintergreen Response 61 - Command (Lt Moser)
Wintergreen Response 62
Wintergreen Response 171 - ATV- 1
Wintergreen Response 174 - ATV -2
Wintergreen Response 63
Wintergreen Rehab 60
Wintergreen Chief 61
Wintergreen Admin 1
Wintergreen Dispatch Center
NEMS Ambulance 93
NEMS Response 94
Montebello Fire Chief 70
Piney River Fire Salvage 23 - ATV
Nelson County Dispatch
Nelson County Emergency Management
Wilson Fire Department Support 196
Virginia Department of Forestry - Forestry 1
Augusta County Emergency Management
Augusta County Fire Battalion 11 / EMS 2
Virginia Department of Emergency Management - SAR team
United States Park Police - Ranger
United States Department of Interior - Road Maintenance Team