RememberSchiff Posted September 16 Share Posted September 16 A 56yr old male hiker was having difficulty hiking near the summit of Mount Flume, So, he told his group of Boy Scouts to continue hiking without him, while he stayed behind with his partner. the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department statement. Hiker with a Medical Emergency on Franconia Ridge Trail CONTACT: Lt. James Kneeland 603-744-5470 603-271-3361 September 16, 2024 Franconia, NH – On Saturday September 14, 2024, at approximately 3:00 p.m., NH Fish and Game was notified of a hiker having a medical emergency on the Franconia Ridge Trail between Mt. Flume and Mt. Liberty. Conservation Officers responded to the Liberty Spring trailhead along with members of the Pemi Valley Search and Rescue Team to assist the hiker. Due to the seriousness and remoteness of the situation, a call was placed to the Army National Guard Aviation Unit to attempt a helicopter rescue. While awaiting the helicopter, rescuers continued to hike up to the patient and his hiking partner. The hiker was identified as 56-year-old Chris Siano of Bolton, MA. The Blackhawk reached Siano’s location near the summit of Mount Liberty around 4:50 p.m. and was able to hoist him up and transport him to Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center for medical treatment. Siano’s hiking partner was identified as Lisa Costanzo of Bolton, MA, who was unable to board the helicopter and was unfamiliar with how to descend from Mount Liberty. She was met near the summit of Mount Liberty by the AMC Liberty Springs tent sites caretaker. A small team of rescuers from Pemi Valley Search and Rescue Team and a Conservation Officer met Costanzo at the tent sites at 6:10 p.m. to help her on her way down. She explained they had left that morning as chaperones to a Boy Scout Troop going up the Flume Slide Trail at 6:30 a.m. Siano began to have a difficulty hiking near the summit of Mt. Flume. He later told the group to go ahead without him while Costanzo stayed with him. They summited at around 2:45 p.m. Upon decent, he began having a medical emergency and called for help. Rescuers reached the trailhead safely along with Costanzo at 9:30 p.m. The public is encouraged to help support search and rescue activities in the state by purchasing a Hike Safe Card. New Hampshire Fish and Game also reminds hikers to prepare themselves before venturing out into the wilderness, including packing the ten essential items: map, compass, warm clothing, extra food and water, headlamp, fire starter, first aid kit, whistle, rain/wind jackets and pants, and a knife. For additional information, please visit www.hikeSafe.com. Sources: https://nhfishgame.com/2024/09/16/hiker-with-a-medical-emergency-on-franconia-ridge-trail/ https://www.masslive.com/news/2024/09/boy-scout-chaperone-rescued-by-helicopter-from-nh-trail.html IMO, the SPL should have refused "No sir, we are NOT leaving you behind. Let's take a look at you and assess." But I dunno, maybe the SPL did and was overruled by adults. Or am I Monday morning quarterbacking here? My $0.02, Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RememberSchiff Posted September 17 Author Share Posted September 17 (edited) The actions reported at this Scout activity deeply trouble me, while I continue to process (cool down?), here is a map for reference. Source with more details on Mt. Liberty and Mt. Flume (two popular 4000-footers in NH): http://4000footers.com/hike_flume+liberty.shtml Above map: http://4000footers.com/MAP liberty flume.pdf Edited September 17 by RememberSchiff Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SiouxRanger Posted September 17 Share Posted September 17 20 minutes ago, RememberSchiff said: The actions reported at this Scout activity deeply trouble me, while I continue to process (cool down?), here is a map for reference. Source with more details on Mt. Liberty and Mt. Flume (two popular 4000-footers in NH): http://4000footers.com/hike_flume+liberty.shtml Above map: http://4000footers.com/MAP liberty flume.pdf I totally agree. The ready-at-hand ad hoc rescue team of scouts were instructed by the person in distress to abandon the situation? Seriously. NEVER leave anyone behind, even if not in distress. (Makeshift stretcher anyone?) And just read the directions that accompany the map. First, the names of the two mountains have been switched in the description of where one is headed at the junction at the end of the .6 mile leg. Nice. (No, not really.) And then the junction on the return trip, between the 2.3 mile leg and the .6 mile leg is not mentioned at all. Go left there and you are headed up Mt. Flume again. Yeah, they should recognize the junction…but if dark, raining and howling wind… (Hey, one serious error had already been made-a wrong turn is just frosting…) 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RememberSchiff Posted September 17 Author Share Posted September 17 21 hours ago, RememberSchiff said: A 56yr old male hiker was having difficulty hiking near the summit of Mount Flume, So, he told his group of Boy Scouts to continue hiking without him, while he stayed behind with his partner. No update on hiker's condition. Prayers for a complete recovery. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RememberSchiff Posted September 19 Author Share Posted September 19 I believe this is the ANG helicopter arriving to pickup scoutmaster for medical transport. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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