Hiker airlifted from White Mountains after injury

TO A 66-year-old New Hampshire man was transported by air from a remote section of the White Mountains Thursday afternoon after suffering a debilitating leg injury on the Bondcliff Trail.

The rescue attempt

State conservation officials were alerted to the situation at 11:53 a.m. on May 28, when Scott Bailey, a solo hiker from Plymouth, New Hampshire, managed to text NH 911 to request emergency assistance. Bailey reported that he had slipped and fallen while descending a steep section of the Bondcliff Trail, suffering a leg injury that left him completely unable to walk on his own.

Using GPS coordinates provided by the 911 system, officials determined Bailey was stranded nearly 7.5 miles from a trailhead. He had spent the previous night at the Guyot Refuge and was leaving when the accident occurred.

Recognizing that a traditional ground evacuation over such a huge distance would require grueling stretcher transport for several hours for dozens of rescuers, officials requested immediate air assistance from the New Hampshire Army National Guard.

Helicopter evacuation

A rapid two-level aviation response was mobilized from Concord. At 1:00 p.m., a NH Army National Guard Lakota helicopter departed to scan the area and determine the exact location of the site. A Blackhawk heavy helicopter followed shortly after to handle technical extraction.

The Lakota crew spotted Bailey through the mountain canopy at 1:30 p.m. Moments later, the Blackhawk arrived on the scene and lowered two crew members via a hoist rope. Rescuers stabilized Bailey and carefully carried him a short distance over the rough terrain to an opening in the trees.

At 2:50 pm, both Bailey and the rescue team were successfully lifted into the Blackhawk. The helicopter then flew directly to Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center, where Bailey was evaluated and treated for his injuries.

Photo via Kyle Debry

Well-prepared hiker aid rescue mission

Conservation officers noted that despite the unfortunate fall, Bailey was a well-prepared hiker whose proper equipment and ability to communicate his coordinates were vital to the speed and success of the mission.

Featured photo via Kyle Debry

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