Maine Warden Service, Maine Air National Guard Rescue Stranded Hiker Atop Bigelow Mountain

April 22, 2026

Maine Warden Service, Maine Air National Guard Rescue Stranded Hiker Atop Bigelow Mountain

DEAD RIVER TOWNSHIP, Maine - The Maine Warden Service and the Maine Air National Guard rescued a severely hypothermic hiker who got caught in the April snow atop Bigelow Mountain.

On Monday night, April 20th, the Maine Warden Service was notified that there was a 24-year-old female hiker on the Appalachian Trail on Bigelow Mountain that was severely hypothermic.

At approximately 9:30 p.m. April 20th, David Piccioni, age 35 of Cumbola, Penn., contacted emergency services and notified them that his hiking partner, Anna Troxell, age 24 of Drums, Penn., was severely hypothermic and needed help. She had slurred speech, her lips were blue and she was losing muscle coordination and was unstable walking.

Troxell and Piccioni were located on the Appalachian Trail between the West Peak and Avery Peak on Bigelow Mountain. There was approximately 3-5" of fresh snow on mountain from a recent storm and temperatures were in the mid-teens.

Game Wardens, alongside members of the Eustis Fire Department, local EMS, and search and rescue volunteers, coordinated a multi-agency response. The initial rescue team began ascending the Fire Warden Trail, a 4.5 mile trail over steep terrain, at the Stratton Brook Pond Road at approximately 10:45 p.m. on April 20th while additional teams mobilized to assist.

Rescuers reached the patient around 01:45 a.m. on Tuesday, April 21st and immediately initiated warming efforts under extreme cold and wet summit conditions, wrapping the two hikers in heavy sleeping bags, providing warm drinks and starting a fire. As the patient's condition continued to deteriorate, the lead rescue team determined that a ground evacuation over the snow-covered trail posed significant risk due to treacherous terrain and conditions which ultimately led to them calling off the two additional teams who were enroute, and contacting the Maine Air National Guard.

An aerial rescue was coordinated with the Maine Air National Guard. At approximately 06:45 a.m., an Air National Guard Black Hawk helicopter successfully hoisted both the patient and her hiking partner from the mountain. They were transported to Carrabassett Valley Regional Airport, where Maine Health Ambulance Services personnel provided treatment for severe hypothermia. The pair were treated, refused transport, and were released.

All rescue personnel safely returned to the trailhead by approximately 10:00 hours.

This release will be updated if new information becomes available.

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