Maine Game Wardens and members of the Maine Association of Search and Rescue Technical Rescue Team rescued a stranded telecommunications worker atop Soper Mountain earlier today (09/05/25).

Chad Wilcox, age 51 of Woodstock Valley, Conn., a communications worker, was hiking up to the summit of Soper Mountain with two other coworkers to work on the communications network on the mountain when he became separated from his coworkers.

Wilcox became stranded on a ledge wall that had a significant vertical drop, and he was unable to get down from where he was. His coworkers were able to make voice contact with him, but were unable to get to him because of the steepness of the terrain. Wilcox was able to contact his employer through satellite texts, and game wardens were dispatched to rescue him.

Game Wardens were able to get near Wilcox last night but were unable to rescue him due to the steep terrain and technical climbing challenges it presented. This morning, four game wardens teamed up with eight members of MASAR who are trained in high angle rope rescues. The MASAR Team was able to conduct a technical rescue to get to Wilcox and then lower him nearly 200 feet down to where game wardens were stationed. Wardens then were able to utilize ATVS to get him back to the road at approximately 12:30 this afternoon. Wilcox was uninjured and did not need medical attention.

This release will be updated if any new information becomes available.