Rescuers in New Hampshire carried an injured hiker roughly two miles down Mount Moriah on Saturday night.
According to New Hampshire Fish and Game officials, conservation officers received a report of an injured hiker on the summit of Mount Moriah in Bean’s Purchase at 5 p.m. on Saturday, August 23.
The 22-year old hiker, from Kittery, Maine, was reportedly descending from the summit when she slipped and suffered a lower leg injury.
Unable to place weight on her leg or continue on, her hiking companion called 911 for help. Because they were nearly four miles from the trailhead, officials began a rescue response with conservation officers and volunteers from Androscoggin Valley Search and Rescue and Lakes Region Search and Rescue responding.
While waiting for rescue crews to arrive, the hiker’s companion carried her nearly three-quarters of a mile down the trail.
The first rescuers reached the hiker at 9:18 p.m. Her injured leg was placed in a vacuum splint and she was placed in a rescue litter.
The rescue crew started carrying her down at 10 p.m. At 12:20 a.m., they arrived at an awaiting ATV, two miles away.
Once they arrived at the ATV, she was transferred over and driven down the remaining 1.25 miles to the parking lot, arriving at 1 a.m.
Although suffering from a serious leg injury, the hiker refused treatment and transport to a hospital from the Gorham Ambulance, instead choosing to seek medical treatment on her own.
Officials said the two hikers were well prepared for a hike of this magnitude and had gear and supplies to stay out for several days if necessary. Both hikers possessed Hike Safe cards.
