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Mrs. Wanneta Johnson is greeted at Great Smoky Mountains National Park Headquarters on her annual visit to thank rangers for rescuing her son 40 years ago. Image by NPS.

GATLINBURG — Forty years ago, 15-year old Eric Johnson and a companion were trapped deep in the backcountry of Great Smoky Mountains National Park by a chest-deep snow storm. On December 3, 1974, park rangers rescued the two hikers. Every year since then, Eric’s mom, Mrs. Wanneta Johnson, has traveled to park headquarters in Gatlinburg to thank the park rangers for saving her son’s life. She has made the trip each December 3rd since 1974, traveled from Johnson City today to make the delivery.

Mrs. Johnson always selects the finest poinsettia she can find in Johnson City to present to rangers. This year Eric joined his mother as she met with Acting Superintendent Clayton Jordan and several members of the park staff including current members of the park’s search and rescue team, none of whom were working at the Smokies in 1974. Over the past four decades hundreds of park rangers have come and gone, but Mrs. Johnson treats each one as if they personally had a hand in saving Eric's life.

When asked why Mrs. Johnson comes back to the park every year, she responded, “How could I not?” In 1974, several rangers spent hours attempting to search for the boys on foot and by ATV, but made little progress because of conditions. They were finally able to locate the boys at Tricorner Knob Shelter from a helicopter.

Once the boys were found, a larger U.S. Army helicopter was brought in to hoist the boys out of the backcountry. Eric Johnson and his friend, Randy Laws, had been held up at the backcountry shelter for three days without adequate food, water or equipment. Both young men suffered from dehydration and exposure and Eric had some frostbite; otherwise, they were in good condition.

Acting Superintendent Clayton Jordan, the seventh superintendent to accept Mrs. Johnson’s gift said, "It is humbling for us on the park staff to be honored every year by Mrs. Johnson’s visit back to the Smokies. Her recognition means a great deal to our rangers who are sometimes tasked with going out in rough weather to come to the aid of visitors like Eric and his family.”