Multiple Rescuers Respond To Injured Hiker On Mount Cube In Orford

ORFORD, NH — Rescuers worked for more than four hours to rescue a Merrimack woman from Mount Cube after slipping on a wet rock and injuring her leg.

Conservation Officers from New Hampshire Fish and Game were made aware of an injured hiker Thursday on the summit of Mount Cube. A call had come into NH 911 reporting that a 56-year-old female had fallen on the slippery wet rock, which caused an upper leg injury that prevented her from being able to continue, according to New Hampshire Fish and Game.

Rescuers from Upper Valley Wilderness Response Team, Orford Fire, Wentworth Fire, Hanover Fire, Lyme Fire, Thetford VT Fire, Fairlee VT Fire, and Conservation Officers responded to the trailhead at about 3 p.m.

The first rescuers reached the injured hiker at 4:56 pm, about 2.2 miles from the trailhead of the Cross Rivendell Trail.

They identified the injured hiker as Heather Roberts of Merrimack. Due to the nature of the victim’s injury, she was packaged into a rescue litter, with the carry-out commencing shortly after 6 p.m.

At least half of the 2.2-mile trail was snow and ice covered with deep snow in some areas, causing rescuers to sink into deep snow, limiting their mobility and speed of extrication.

The rescue crew made it to the trailhead on Baker Road at 7:45 PM. The victim was transported to Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center in Lebanon by the Upper Valley Ambulance for assessment and treatment of her injury.

According to Conservation Officers, Roberts and her hiking partner were well-prepared for a winter day hike and wore micro-spike traction devices.

New Hampshire Fish and Game reminds people that winter conditions persist at elevation throughout New Hampshire’s White Mountains and that they should prepare accordingly. Please visit http://www.hikesafe.com/ for more information.