GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS NATIONAL PARK – It was an emotional reunion this morning as staff members of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park were presented with a plaque and Christmas poinsettia from Wanneta Johnson in gratitude for rangers who saved her son Erik’s life 35 years ago.

Also attending the event was Erik Johnson himself, who gave a colorful blow-by-blow desciption of his experience that week back in 1974.

It all started on a beautiful sunny Thanksgiving morning on a 30-mile, three night trip with plans for Erik’s parents to pick him up on Sunday at Newfound Gap.  By Saturday noon Erik and his friend were at Tricorner Knob Shelter, only about half-way to the Gap, and it was snowing heavily so they decided to stay at Tricorner that night and cover the whole 15 miles remaining on Sunday. 

“Sunday morning they woke to chest-deep snow drifts and near-zero visability,” said Bob Miller, Park Management Assistant.  “After covering only a half-mile they realized that they had no choice but to go back to the shelter and await rescue.” 

Harry and Wanneta Johnson came to Gatlinburg and reported to Rangers that the boys are due out that day. Monday morning it’s still snowing but two parties of Rangers start out to locate them, one pair on snowshoes and one pair by ATV, but both are driven back by high winds, deep snow and wind chills at  4 degrees.

“Tuesday morning a light helicopter finally located them at the shelter early in the day but cannot land due to high winds, so a US Army CH-46 Chinook cargo copter with hoisting capability is called in and finally extricates them at about 4 p.m. They were both dehydrated and hypothermic and Erik had some frostbite to his feet , but neither (man) suffered any lasting effects.”

Following that experience Erik Johnson went on to climb Mt Rainier, Mt McKinley and peaks in South America and completed a career as a Special Agent in the Drug Enforcement Administration. Wanneta expressed her gratitude to Rangers for saving her son’s life and when asked about why she continues to come and thank the Park each year said, “How could I not? These rangers saved Erik’s life and through him saved ours (i.e. herself and her husband Harry who passed away in 2000).”

“I’ll keep coming as long as I’m on Earth and the flowers will keep coming as long as Erik is alive,” she said.

In addition to her usual huge poinsettia, Wanneta Johnson presented the Park with a plaque expressing gratitude on the 35th anniversary of the rescue. From left: Acting Chief Ranger Steve Kloster, Wanneta Johnson, Deputy Superintendent Kevin FitzGerald, Erik Johnson. Photo: GSMNP.