Another Great Smoky Mountains National Park rescue took place this past weekend. Vetice Bates was rescued from Snake Den Ridge Trail in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Mr. Bates is a volunteer Trail Blazer with the National Park Service. He was riding a horse as part of the backcountry horsemen when he was injured. He fell from his horse about 8:00pm Saturday night. A nighttime rescue was not possible due to heavy fog. Other members that where with him spent the night with Bates after setting up shelter.
GSMNP Rescue of Volunteer
Sunday morning the Tennessee Highway Patrol aviation unit and the Great Smoky Mountain National Park’s search and rescue team set out for a rescue mission. Mr. Bates was lifted onto the helicopter and taken to the Sevierville Airport where he was then transported by ambulance to the UT Medical Center. Vetice Bates is 68 years old. Another job well done by the Tennessee Highway Patrol and the Great Smoky Mountain National Park search and rescue.
See Snake Den Ridge Trail…
