Injured hiker rescued from Mount Washington in extreme weather conditions
Rescuers battled hurricane force winds, freezing temperatures, and low visibility to locate and rescue an injured hiker on Mount Washington Wednesday, according to officials.
Kathleen Maguire, 56, of Antrim, New Hampshire, called 911 when she injured her ankle on the Ammonoosuc Ravine Trail Tuesday, according to the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department. Appalachian Mountain Club personnel hiked down to her from the Lake in the Clouds hut, splinted her ankle, and helped get her to the hut around 4:30 p.m. The department said a medical helicopter was called to transport her but was unable to fly due to weather conditions, so Maguire stayed at the hut overnight.
When the weather did not improve on Wednesday, rescue personnel hiked 1.5 miles down from the top of the mountain to the hut, the department said. Rescuers then carried Maguire in a litter back up to the top of Mount Washington, fighting frigid temperatures, over 60 mph winds, and visibility that was only 10 feet at times, the department said.
The team reached the summit around 2:30 p.m. and Maguire was transported by a private vehicle down the mountain to a waiting ambulance. Authorities said she declined any additional medical care at the scene and planned to seek to seek attention in in the Concord, New Hampshire area.
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