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Scout chaperone from Mass. airlifted from NH mountain trail, officials say

A Bolton resident was rescued by a helicopter after he experienced a "medical emergency" on a trail, the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department said.

Franconia Ridge, in the White Mounts of New Hampshire, includes part of the Appalachian Trail. Shutterstock

September 16, 2024

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A hiker on a trail in New Hampshire’s White Mountains required a helicopter rescue on Saturday, officials said.

After reports of a hiker having a medical emergency on the Franconia Ridge Trail, authorities sent the National Guard to rescue the hiker, the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department said in a statement.

A 56-year-old man from Bolton, Mass., was chaperoning a Boy Scout Troop hike early Saturday morning, the statement said. He began to have difficulty hiking near the summit of Mt. Flume, so a fellow chaperone stayed back with him as the group went on, officials said.

The two hikers continued on far behind their group and reached the top of Mt. Flume around 2:45 in the afternoon. However, officials said the man had a “medical emergency” and called for help while he and and his companion descended the mountain.

Officials said they contacted the National Guard due to the “seriousness and remoteness” of the situation. While the two hikers waited for the helicopter, rescuers continued to hike up the mountain to reach them, the statement said.

The helicopter reached the man around 4:50 p.m. and transported him to a nearby hospital for medical treatment, the statement said. Officials say rescuers on the ground reached the other chaperone at nearby tent sites at 6:10 p.m. to help her descend the mountain.

Officials did not comment on the man’s condition.

The New Hampshire Fish and Game Department reminded the public to purchase a Hike Safe Card, and encouraged hikers to always thoroughly prepare themselves before venturing out into the wilderness.