Fish and Game

Three Snowmobile Crashes Saturday In North Country

Chris Jensen — Sun, 10 Mar 2013 13:32:08 +0000

There were three snowmobile crashes in the North Country Saturday, including two in which riders were injured, according to New Hampshire Fish and Game.

The first involved 32-year-old Kevin Brigham of Brookline, New Hampshire who lost control of his snowmobile and struck an oncoming snowmobile, Conservation Officer Geoffrey Younglove wrote in a news release. Brigham suffered internal injuries in the crash on Trail 18 and was taken by helicopter to a hospital in Maine.

Hiker Rescue Bill Gets Hearing

Todd Bookman — Thu, 31 Jan 2013 23:00:36 +0000

Supporters and opponents packed a committee room for the first hearing on a bill that would charge a fee to anyone needing a backcountry rescue.The proposed law would be the first of its kind in the nation.

Canadian Hikers Rescued from Mount Lafayette

Chris Jensen — Mon, 31 Dec 2012 20:58:03 +0000

Two Canadian men who were lost in the White Mountains overnight were rescued Monday afternoon after an extensive search by Fish and Game and a National Guard Black Hawk helicopter.

NHPR’s Chris Jensen reports.

The two Canadian men had planned to climb Mt. Lafayette, a 4,000-footer in the Franconia Notch.

But they lost their way late Sunday afternoon due to fog, high winds and blowing snow, says Dany Daigle of Quebec, one of the hikers.

“We found a big rock and sleep under it. We tried to make a fire and our matches didn’t work. And our water froze.”

Bill Proposes Mandatory Fines For All Hiker Rescues

Chris Jensen — Wed, 26 Dec 2012 13:53:08 +0000

Hikers could be charged for their rescues even if they didn’t do anything wrong under a bill being filed by the NH House’s top republican.

Currently much of the money for rescue operations carried out by New Hampshire Fish and Game comes from fees such as licenses for hunting, fishing and snowmobiles.

Only those guilty of the most reckless behavior risk having to pay for their rescues.

But rescues cost about $300,000 a year, says Major Kevin Jordan, of Fish and Game.

Nashua Man Rescued In White Mountains

Chris Jensen — Sun, 14 Oct 2012 14:32:39 +0000

A Nashua man who was trail running in the White Mountains was rescued Saturday after he fell and was injured.

Kevin McDonald, 48, slipped and injured his knee on the East Pond Trail, according to Lt. James Kneeland of New Hampshire Fish and Game.

Kneeland said two hikers came across McDonald and one went for help while the other remained with him.

McDonald was helped off the trail by Fish and Game officers and members of the Pemi Valley Search and Rescue.

Hiker Rescued Saturday Morning By Black Hawk Helicopter

Chris Jensen — Sat, 01 Sep 2012 16:42:30 +0000

An Army National Guard Black Hawk helicopter was used Saturday morning to lift an injured, 285-pound hiker off Mount Adams, according to a news release from New Hampshire Fish and Game.

The man, Jason Baker, 43, of Chicago, dislocated his knee on Mount Adams and about 7:30 Friday evening his two companions called 911 for help.

The trio was in a remote area and Fish and Game Lt. Douglas Gralenski said since they were properly equipped to spend the night on the mountain they were told to wait for a rescue in the morning.

An Injured Hiker And 4.4 Miles Of Trail

Chris Jensen — Fri, 24 Aug 2012 19:02:07 +0000

It took almost two dozen volunteers to carry an injured woman out of the White Mountains late Thursday, according to a news release from New Hampshire Fish and Game.

Mary Jean Mork, 61, injured her leg on the last day of a five-day trip from Franconia Ridge to the Zealand Road in Bethlehem.

Her husband, Michael Donahue, went to the Appalachian Mountain Club hut for help because there is no cellular coverage in the area. The AMC huts have high-powered radios.

New Jersey Family Rescued In White Mountains

Chris Jensen — Wed, 15 Aug 2012 14:52:52 +0000

A New Jersey family was rescued from the White Mountains early Wednesday morning, according to a news release from New Hampshire Fish and Game.

The couple and their 31-year-old son called 911 for help about 9 p.m. after they found their small light wasn’t enough to safely follow the Old Bridle Path Trail, said Lt. James Kneeland.

Conservation officers reached the family about 11:15 and had them off the mountain just after midnight.

Four Rescues In the North Country Over The Weekend

Chris Jensen — Mon, 16 Jul 2012 01:06:10 +0000

There were four rescues in the North Country over the weekend, requiring good, old fashioned ground pounding, the use of an ATV and an Army National Guard Black Hawk helicopter, according to a news release from Fish and Game Region 1, which is based in Lancaster.

The first occurred on Friday evening about 10:30 when a Florida family called for help from the Jewell Trail on Mount Washington. Their problem: The batteries on their only flashlight were drained.

Two Calls For Help In The White Mountains: Two Happy Endings

Chris Jensen — Mon, 09 Jul 2012 01:25:34 +0000

Fish and Game responded to two calls for help over the weekend in The White Mountains, one involving a five-year-old who fell and hit his head and the other a woman suffering a sudden illness.

Both, however, turned out to be minor problems.

The first call was Saturday for a 36-year-old woman from Hawaii who was reported to be seriously ill on the Franconia Ridge Trail, according to a release from Lt. James Kneeland.

Injured Boy Rescued On Mount Washington

Chris Jensen — Mon, 25 Jun 2012 22:18:32 +0000

A 15-year-old was carried off Mount Washington Monday after he fell and injured his leg, according to a news release from Fish and Game.

Conservation Officer Matt Holmes said Michael Hery of Peabody, Massachusetts, was heading down the Ammonoosuc Ravine Trail Monday morning when he fell.

Hery was traveling with his father, Peter, and a friend and the father went to the AMC’s Lakes of the Clouds hut for help.

Employees of the hut then helped the youth get back to the hut where his leg was put in a splint.

Four Kids, Two Adults Using Cell Phone For Light Rescued

Chris Jensen — Sat, 02 Jun 2012 19:36:35 +0000

Two adults and four small children were rescued Friday night in the White Mountains after they became lost and were trying to light the trail with a cell phone, according to a news release from New Hampshire Fish and Game.

Lt. James Kneeland said about 9:15 p.m. Fish and Game was notified that the group has used a cell phone to call for help.

The group was composed of Josie Rogers and her husband, Christopher Kangas, of St. Johnsbury, Vt. They were with their four children, ages eight, six, five and two.

Massachusetts Woman Lost - And Found - Near Pittsburg

Chris Jensen — Mon, 28 May 2012 16:50:49 +0000

A Massachusetts woman who became lost near Pittsburg was rescued last night, according to a news release from New Hampshire Fish and Game.

The woman, Sharon Matthews, 49, of Warwick, Mass., was reported missing about 4:30 Sunday by her husband after she failed to return from a hike to look for moose antlers.

About 8 p.m. a plume of smoke in South Bay Bog was spotted by Conservation Officers Chris Egan, Adam Cheney and Pittsburg Police Chief Richard LaPoint.

Matthews was reached about 40 minutes later sitting next to a fire with her dog at her side.

Black Hawk Rescues Heat Victim From 4,000 Footer

Chris Jensen — Sun, 27 May 2012 20:53:31 +0000

Warm weather over the weekend and climbing a 4,000 footer in the North Country was a bad combination for a Penacook man.

NHPR’s Chris Jensen reports.

Early Sunday afternoon hiking companions of a 51-year-old man used a cell phone to call for help.

Lt. James Kneeland of Fish and Game said the problem was apparently heat related.

“Dehydration, heat stroke. Something along those lines to the point where he was losing, in and out of consciousness.”

Three Hikers - And A Big Dog - Rescued By Fish and Game

Chris Jensen — Mon, 14 May 2012 15:15:55 +0000

New Hampshire Fish and Game officials say they had to rescue three hikers and a dog over the weekend. The hikers ran into trouble on Little Haystack Mountain in Grafton County. NHPR’s Chris Jensen has more.

(Jensen) A 29-year-old Manchester man used his cell phone late Saturday to call for help after it got dark before he could finish hiking down from Little Haystack Mountain.

And he lacked a flashlight.