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Goat rescue was a real cliffhanger!

Gorgeous Gertie rescued by Doe River Gorge staff

A rescue team from Doe River Gorge recently embarked on a dangerous mission to rescue Gorgeous Gertie, the beloved goat living among the rugged mountains of Doe River Gorge. After climbing down a rocky cliff face, Gertie found herself stuck on a ledge for at least six days before two staff members, Ryan Vernon and David Legge, performed a daring high-angle rescue mission to save her. (photos are available for viewing at www.facebook.com/doerivergorge.)

Vernon and Legge traveled approximately 1.5 miles into the gorge on the railroad before hiking about 200 yards to the cliff carrying 60 pounds of climbing and rappelling gear. When they arrived at the base, they crossed the Doe River, and hiked up the back side of the 90-foot peak looking for a sturdy place to tie in their rappelling ropes. They found two large trees that served as their anchor. Vernon and Legge then rappelled down the cliff face to meet Gertie.

"The entire mission took about an hour, but we were only on the cliff for 15-20 minutes," said Legge, who is an Activities Director at Doe River Gorge. "Getting our ropes set took the most time."

When Vernon and Legge reached Gertie, they immediately gave her horse feed, which she eagerly devoured. The food served as a distraction while they hooked her into a makeshift harness made from webbing straps and rope. They attached her to Legge's harness, and he lowered himself and Gertie 50 feet to the bottom of the cliff.

"David had a better angle for lowering her, and there was a grassy area at the bottom of the cliff on his side," said Vernon, who serves as Program Director at Doe River Gorge. "Below me there was nothing but river rapids. When they reached the bottom, it was gratifying to see her get some food and water after being that hungry and thirsty."

Vernon and Legge both have extensive outdoor training in climbing, rappelling, and high-angle rescue tactics. In fact, Vernon said this rescue mission actually reminded him of the day he met his wife.

"I met my wife, Jennifer, during a high-angle rescue training course with Tennessee Mountain Rescue," he said. "I performed this same rescue technique in training with her, so during the mission to rescue Gertie I was reminiscing about how we first met."

This was not Vernon's first experience with a goat in a dangerous situation. While climbing the famous 14,000-foot twin Maroon Bells in Colorado in 2003, Vernon came across a mountain goat that had slipped from a ledge and plummeted to its death. Gertie was much more fortunate to have two trained professionals spend a rainy Tuesday morning risking their lives to save a wild goat stuck on a cliff. According to Legge, communication is the key to a successful rescue mission.

"There is really no room for mistakes when doing something like this," stated Legge. "You have to think in advance, make a plan, and execute without error. I was afraid Gertie was going to get scared and jump off when she saw us coming, but she didn't. Thankfully, everything went according to plan."

"She's more than just any old goat," added Vernon. "She has become unique to Doe River Gorge, and people have developed a real interest in her after our name-the-goat contest."