A hiker’s knee injury on the Tuckerman Ravine Trail in New Hampshire triggered an overnight rescue effort by Fish and Game officers and volunteer searchers this week.
New Hampshire Fish and Game received a 911 call Wednesday, July 8th, at 9:40pm reporting a hiker with a knee injury unable to continue moving on the trail, located roughly 1.2 miles from the AMC Pinkham Notch Visitor Center.
The hiker was identified as a 67-year-old from Maumee, Ohio. She had been hiking with her husband and slipped and fell several hours earlier but was initially able to keep moving. Once darkness set in and the couple had no lights, they could no longer continue. The hiker told responders she was not able to hike down under her own power.
Conservation Officers and volunteers from Androscoggin Valley Search and Rescue launched a rescue response. The first AVSAR volunteer to reach the scene hiked up the trail and found that the woman and her husband had resumed moving after another hiker passing by gave them a headlamp.
When Conservation Officers arrived, they drove ATVs up the Sherburne Ski Trail and got close enough to reach the hiker. She was helped onto an ATV and driven down to the visitor center parking lot, arriving at 1:15am. She refused medical treatment.
The Tuckerman Ravine Trail is a popular but demanding route on Mount Washington, and officials frequently stress the importance of carrying lights and proper gear for hikers who may still be on trail after sunset. Fish and Game officials highlighted the effort put in by search and rescue volunteers, who respond whenever hikers run into trouble, often donating both time and money to do so.