Two rescued in weekend of accidents at White Mountains, New Hampshire officials say

Two men were carried out from the White Mountains area after falling and sustaining injuries over the weekend, New Hampshire officials said.

A 26-year-old man from Ohio was hiking Mount Cardigan, a 3,000-foot granite summit, with his family on Oct. 15 when he slipped on moss and wet rocks, according to a release from the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department.

As a result of the fall, he injured his lower leg, and was unable to make it back down the mountain without assistance, according to the release, and the family dialed 911.

Conservation officers and individuals from multiple nearby fire departments responded to the scene. They placed the injured hiker in a litter, a rescue basket intended for navigating difficult terrain, and carried him down to the trailhead, according to the release.

About 24 hours later, conservation officers responded to another fall in Jackson, a town near the Maine border, according to a separate release from the state’s Fish and Game Department.

A 39-year-old man from Maine, who had been rock climbing with two friends, slipped and fell while “attempting the Four Banger climbing route,” according to the release.

While his fall was stopped by his protective gear, he struck the climbing wall, resulting in a “debilitating lower leg injury,” according to the release.

The man called 911 and, after being evaluated and treated, conservation officers placed him in a litter and carried him to the trailhead, according to the release.

The New Hampshire Fish and Game Department dispatches search and rescue units about 180 times each year to assist injured hikers, stranded climbers and other people in need of aid outdoors, according to the New Hampshire Bulletin.

That number has been steadily increasing over the past 20 years, according to the outlet.

The officers dispatched to Jackson and Mount Cardigan did not immediately respond to a request for comment from McClatchy News.

This story was originally published October 18, 2022 at 12:03 PM with the headline "Two rescued in weekend of accidents at White Mountains, New Hampshire officials say."