“Cliffed Out” Hikers Rescued At Treat Farm Trail

At 4:37pm on April 23, Glen Lake Fire Department (GLFD) firefighters and National Park Service (NPS) rangers were dispatched to the Treat Farm Trail in the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore for a report of two individuals that were “cliffed out” on the dune face, meaning they could not climb up or down.

The individuals were located half-way down the dune, half-way between the Empire Bluff Trail and Treat Farm Trail. GLFD personnel and an NPS ranger rappelled 200 feet down the dune face to reach the persons in distress. The search-and-rescue team fitted the stranded individuals with harnesses and assisted them in ascending the dune face. Both rescuers and the rescued reached the top of the dune face without incident or injury.

Photo via Glen Lake Firefighters L5086