Authorities rescued a woman from Boston who got injured while hiking alone on a New Hampshire trail.
In a news release, the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department said they received an alert approximately 1:45 p.m.on Saturday, Oct. 12 about an injured hiker — later identified as Anna Meier, 33 – between Mount Lincoln and Mount Lafayette on the Franconia Ridge Trail.
According to the department, Meier was planning a solo hike of the 9-mile Falling Waters/Old Bridle Path Loop. She left at about 8. a.m. and summited Little Haystack and Mount Lincoln on Franconia Ridge.
However, upon her descent from Mount Lincoln towards Mount Lafayette, Meier slipped and injured her lower leg, authorities said. She realized that she would not be able to finish hiking the 4.2 miles to the trailhead. Passing hikers called 911 on Meier’s behalf as her cell phone service wasn’t fully working.
Due to traffic conditions on I-93, the first rescuers had difficulty going up the trail until about 3 p.m., New Hampshire Fish and Game said.
Meanwhile, an Appalachian Mountain Club crew of two located Meier at about 5 p.m. They brought her to a sheltered area and put her in a sleeping bag before the rescue team’s arrival about an hour later.
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At the time of her rescue, Meier had trouble staying warm as she experienced temperatures in the 30s with winds measuring between 60 and 80 mph, authorities said.
At about 6:20, per New Hampshire Fish and Game, about 25 rescuers helped carry Meier on the 4.2-mile journey to the trailhead, They took a break at Appalachian Mountain Club Greenleaf Hut around 9 p.m. before finally arriving at the trailhead in the early morning hours of Oct. 13. Once there, Meier was transported to have her injured leg evaluated.
According to NewEngland.com, the Franconia Ridge hike (also known as the Franconia Ridge Loop), which covers Mount Lafayette, Mount Lincoln, and Little Haystack is regarded as one of the popular and best in the region – and is surrounded by picturesque views in the White Mountains.
But, as the website points out, “the trail from Mount Lafayette to Mount Lincoln to Little Haystack is the most exposed, most beautiful, and most dangerous part of the hike. Although it looks like a straight route from here, the trail dips and climbs more than it appears to.”
Following the incident, New Hampshire Fish and Game recommended that hikers be prepared before going out into the wilderness and advised those to carry important supplies, like a map, a compass, warm clothing, additional food and water as well as a first aid kit.
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