It was a busy last day of July in Franconia, New Hampshire yesterday as rescuers spent the day helping multiple hikers.
New Hampshire Fish and Game officials received a 911 call at 10:25 a.m. on Thursday, July 31 from a hiker who had fallen on the Kinsman Ridge Trail in Franconia. The hiker had suffered a lower leg injury preventing her from continuing down the trail.
Conservation officers and volunteers from the Pemigewasset Valley Search and Rescue team responded to the trailhead.
Rescuers hiked roughly 0.7 miles up the Kinsman Ridge Trail, reaching the injured hiker at 11:40 a.m. The hiker was identified as Patricia Dewey, 66, of Thetford, Vermont.
Rescuers placed Dewey in a litter and carried her down the Kinsman Ridge trail arriving at 1:10pm. Once at the trailhead, Dewey was taken by Littleton Ambulance to Littleton Regional Hospital for further Medical treatment.
Officials said Dewey was well prepared for a day hike and had all the appropriate gear.
As the rescuers finished the first carryout, a second call was received at 2 p.m. for another hiker needing assistance. This time on the Greenleaf Trail in Franconia.
The hiker was located about 0.75 miles up the Greenleaf Trail and rescuers reached him at 2:41pm.
The hiker was identified as Damon Howard, 78, of Fairhaven, Massachusetts. Damon had suffered a medical emergency and was unable to continue hiking.
Rescuers from Pemigewasset Valley Search and Rescue and Fish and Game placed Howard into a litter and carried him down the trial, arriving at the trailhead at 3:55pm.
Howard was taken by his hiking partners for further medical treatment.
