Mount Monadnock park staff rescue a hiker from the summit of the mountain on Sunday, November 14.Photo: New Hampshire Fish and Game
JAFFREY, N.H. (WBZ NewsRadio) — It was a bit of a hectic day on Mt. Monadnock for New Hampshire Fish and Game officers. The department said it made three simultaneous rescues on the icy slopes of the popular hiking spot on Sunday.
Officials were first notified of an injured hiker at about 10:30 AM, not far below the summit on the mountain's east face. They found hiker Tina Sharby, of Goffstown, N.H., who had fallen and needed help.
Sharby was helped down the mountain by park staff and eventually made it down by about 7:40 PM.
While the Sharby rescue was happening, Conservation Officers got another injury call at about 12:45 PM — back at the frozen, bald peak of the mountain. This time, the hiker in need of rescue was Frederick Demarco, of North Attleboro, Mass., who had what officials described as a "serious lower leg injury."
Rescuers called in for a medevac helicopter from Dartmouth-Hitchcock Health, but were told the helicopter was unable to fly. First responders then decided they would need to take Demarco down the mountain on foot, using the White Arrow Trail — a steep, treacherous path with many slippery patches and snow at the summit.
While inching down the mountain with Demarco, the rescuers got yet another call: Kateri Demartino of Gardner, Mass. — a frequent Monadnock hiker — had seen all of the emergency vehicles and wanted to help. Demartino climbed the White Arrow trail to just about where the rescue teams were carrying Demarco, and then fell. She was also helped down the mountain. All three hikers were taken to local hospitals once they got off the mountain.
New Hampshire Fish and Game warned the public that hiking Mt. Monadnock in the late fall should be considered like a winter hike, and that good footwear, including micro spikes, is crucial.
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