Officials said advanced preparation by a hiker proved to be extremely helpful after he was injured in a fall on Mount Washington yesterday.
New Hampshire Fish and Game conservation officers responded to Mount Washington the afternoon of Tuesday, September 15 after receiving a report of an injured hiker who was attempting to self-rescue on the Crawford Path.
Fish and Game officials said an unrelated hiker called 911 at 3:15 p.m. to report that an injured man was making his way up the Crawford Path between the Lakes of the Clouds and the summit. The hiker put the injured man on the phone, and he said he had fallen and dislocated a shoulder and injured his back.
The man said he intended to make his way to the summit and then figure out his options from there. Officers advised the man to stick to that plan, and that they would respond to ensure that he made it out safely.
At approximately 5 p.m., two officers arrived at the summit of Mount Washington and hiked roughly a third of a mile down Crawford Path to meet the injured 61-year-old hiker. The hiker continued to hike slowly and was flanked by the officers to help ensure that he didn’t fall.
Slowly but surely, the hiker made his way to the summit, arriving there safely under his own power at 5:30 p.m.
Once at the summit, the hiker was driven by an officer to the base of the Mount Washington Auto Road, where he was assessed by Gorham EMS.
The hiker had been able to relocate his shoulder and said he would drive himself to an urgent care facility.
Officials said the hiker had started hiking up the Ammonoousuc Ravine Trail at 4 a.m. that morning. At approximately 10 a.m., he slipped and fell on a portion of the trail that contains wet granite slabs a short distance below the Lakes of the Clouds.
The hiker said he had looked at some of the recommendations on New Hampshire Fish and Game’s website, and after doing so decided to pack some extra gear, including additional warm clothing and a first aid kit.
Officials said these items turned out to be much needed after his accident, and he was thankful that he had heeded the recommendations.
