Strong winds, cold temperatures, and heavy traffic combined to challenge crews attempting to rescue an injured hiker on New Hampshire’s Franconia Ridge on Saturday.
On Saturday at approximately 1:45 p.m., New Hampshire Fish and Game officials were notified of an injured hiker between Mount Lincoln and Mount Lafayette on the Franconia Ridge Trail 4.2 miles from the trailhead.
Conservation officers and volunteers – including members of the Pemigewasset Valley Search and Rescue Team – responded to the Old Bridle Path Trailhead in Franconia Notch. Rescuers had difficulty getting to the trailhead with traffic congestion on I-93, so the first rescuers didn’t start up the trail until after 3:00 p.m.
The solo hiker had suffered a lower leg injury that was preventing her from continuing. Passing hikers had contacted 911 to report the incident, as the injured hiker’s phone had spotty service.
The injured hiker was having difficulty staying warm with winds at 60 to 80 mph and temperatures in the thirties on Franconia Ridge. This placed the wind chill in single digits.
An AMC crew of two was dispatched from AMC Greenleaf Hut and arrived with the hiker just before 5 p.m.. They were able to get her to a somewhat sheltered area and place her in a sleeping bag until the rescue team arrived at around 6:00 p.m.. The 4.2-mile carryout started 20 minutes later and involved roughly 25 rescuers. The rescue team took a short break at Greenleaf Hut where they arrived at 9:00 p.m. and eventually arrived, without incident, at the trailhead at 1:20 a.m.
The hiker, Anna Meier, 33, of Boston, Massachusetts, had planned a solo hike of the 9-mile Falling Waters and Old Bridle Path Loop. She had departed at 8 a.m. and had summited Little Haystack and Mount Lincoln on Franconia Ridge.
As she descended from Mount Lincoln towards Mount Lafayette, she slipped, causing the injury to her lower leg. She initially tied to hobble along the trail but soon realized that she would not be able to continue and complete the 4.2 miles to the trailhead.