WOLFE COUNTY, Ky. (LEX 18)– With a long weekend ahead, the Red River Gorge will see plenty of visitors on the trails and at the campsites. The spike in visitors can also mean a rise in rescues.
On Wednesday night, the Wolfe County Search and Rescue team was called out multiple times to help lost hikers, and one person with a venomous snake bite.
According to rescue team member Drew Stevens, this holiday weekend can bring more busy days since thousands of visitors are expected to hit the trails.
“I’ve seen as many as three or four rescues in a day memorial day weekend. It gets really, really busy and it can be a number of things. anything from a lost hiker to a person getting hurt on trail or unfortunately maybe even falling off a cliff,” he said.
To stay safe, you should bring a map, stick to a plan, and have plenty of water.
“I always research most of the trails and make sure we know where we’re going. this one’s pretty easy. it’s well marked,” said Indiana resident Brooks Brown.
Going off the trail is an option, as long as you take precautions.
“If you aren’t experienced with the area or experienced with that sort of thing. If you don’t have a topographic map and that’s not part of your plan, I would not encourage you to incorporate that into your plan,” he said.
Also, bring a phone in case you need to call for help.
The Wolfe County Search and Rescue Team also suggests if you’re camping, don’t move around at night and stay at your campsite.
