My second cousin's fifteen year old son climbed Mt. Washington with his Dad this past weekend. They made it to the top, but upon descent Michael fell and broke his leg. A dozen NH Fish and Game and park rangers and AMC employees had to carry him on a litter a mile and 1/2 to the summit. I guess it was very rainy and windy. Grandmother and mom were in Peabody frantically worried, but Michael is alright now. This is a report from the New Hampshire Fish and Game.
June 25, 2012
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CONTACT:
Conservation Officer Matthew Holmes
Region One Office, Lancaster, NH
603-788-4850
603-271-3361
Conservation Officer Matthew Holmes
Region One Office, Lancaster, NH
603-788-4850
603-271-3361
Injured Hiker Rescued On Mt. Washington
CONCORD, N.H. - On the morning of Monday, June 25,
2012, Michael Hery, 15, of Peabody, Massachusetts, sustained a leg
injury after a fall on the Ammonoosuc Ravine Trail on Mt. Washington.
Mr. Hery had spent the previous night at the Appalachian Mountain
Club’s Lakes of the Clouds Hut with his father and a friend, and the
trio were making their way down the trail when the incident occurred.
Knowing that assistance would be needed, Peter Hery (Michael’s
father) ran back to the Lakes of the Clouds Hut and notified staff of
the accident. Hut staff returned with Peter to Michael’s location and
subsequently helped him hobble back to the hut. At Lakes of the Clouds
Hut, Mr. Hery’s leg was splinted, but he was unable to walk. New
Hampshire Fish and Game was notified of the incident, and plans were
made to carry Mr. Hery in a litter approximately 1.5 miles up to the
summit of Mt. Washington, where he could be taken to the hospital via
conventional vehicle.
Knowing that the carryout would be difficult, the Appalachian
Mountain Club was able to gather 16 members of their staff for the
mission. They were joined by two members of the Mt. Washington State
Park staff, and together were able get Mr. Hery’s carryout underway at
approximately 1:00 p.m. Four members of the New Hampshire Fish and Game
Department responded as well, meeting the rescue crew on the Crawford
Path just a below the summit. The rescue crew was able to bring Mr.
Hery safely to the summit, arriving there shortly before 3:00 p.m. Mr.
Hery was subsequently transported to Memorial Hospital in North Conway
for further evaluation and treatment.
“It is a huge asset to myself and other Conservation Officers to
have such a strong and dedicated group of volunteers to assist with
mountain rescues” stated Conservation Officer Matt Holmes. “Despite raw
temperatures and driving rain, this crew pushed ahead and had the
patient out of the woods as quickly as could be expected.” Peter Hery
expressed many thanks to the crew as well, commenting on what a good
job they had done.
