Portsmouth, Durham Hikers Rescued In Franconia Notch; ATV Crashes

LINCOLN, NH — New Hampshire Fish & Game conservation officers were kept busy with multiple rescues during the weekend.

On Friday, in two separate incidents, Granite State hikers were rescued after slipping and injuring themselves.

Around 8:30 a.m., officers received a 911 call about an injured hiker on the Falling Waters Trail near Cloudland Falls involving a man who slid for 50 feet after slipping and injuring his leg. Good Samaritans with medical training happened to be in the area and assisted the man, identified later as Porter McManus, 24, of Durham.

Conservation officers and volunteers from the Pemi Valley Search and Rescue Team reached McManus around 9:45 a.m. and began to carry him out. A LinWood Ambulance was waiting for him and took him to Littleton Regional Hospital.

“McManus had planned a day hike of the Falling Waters-Bridle Path Loop and was well prepared for his hike with equipment,” Lt. James Kneeland of Fish & Game said. “While at the top of Cloudland Falls, McManus attempted a photograph of the scenic falls when he slipped on a wet rock and fell to the bottom. It is remarkable that he did not suffer a more significant injury.”

A few hours later, another 911 call was received with a report of a woman suffering a lower leg injury while falling at the Kinsman Pond Shelter in Lincoln. The shelter, Kneeland noted, is more than 3.5 miles away from the nearest trailhead across rugged terrain.

The New Hampshire Army National Guard was requested to determine if a helicopter lift could be made at the shelter. Around 2:45 p.m., the flight crew headed to the area and was able to lower a medic down to Alexis Belling, 24, of Portsmouth, the injured party. She, the medic, and a hiking companion were all airlifted to the helicopter and taken to the Cannon Mountain Ski Area parking lot. Belling was taken to Littleton Regional by Littleton fire and rescue.

“Belling and two companions had hiked to the Kinsman Pond Shelter with the intention of spending the night and then returning to their vehicle the following day,” Kneeland said. “As they were setting up their tent, Belling slid on wet rock, causing an injury to her lower leg. The injury prevented her from bearing weight or continuing without assistance. The hiking party was well prepared for a multi-day hike.”

Kneeland warned hikers that during periods of rain and high humidity, trails in the White Mountains are often very slippery, requiring hikers to have proper footwear.

For safe hiking tips and a list of essential gear, visit hikesafe.com. Outdoor enthusiasts are encouraged to purchase a Hike Safe card at wildnh.com/safe. The card helps support Fish and Game search and rescue activities.

ATV Crashes

On Saturday, conservation officers received a report about an ATV rollover in Groveton.

Officers and the Groveton fire and rescue team assisted Heather Foster, 42, of Southbury, Connecticut, who was traveling with others along a narrow section of trail when her machine hit a bump, and she lost control of the ATV.

The ATV flipped and pinned her to the ground, Levi Frye, a conservation officer, said.

“No one in her riding party saw the incident occur, however,” he said. “When they did not hear her machine anymore, Foster’s husband, who had been traveling ahead of her, came back to check and found her trapped by the machine. He flipped the ATV off of her, and an emergency call was placed.”

Operator inattention, despite Foster’s “multiple years of experience” riding, was considered a factor. Alcohol and drug intoxication were not considered factors, Frye said.

Around 4:45 p.m. on Sunday, another ATV crash was reported in Cambridge.

The crash involved a 15-year-old from Massachusetts who rolled his machine and suffered injuries. Errol fire and rescue and conservation officers assisted and learned the boy failed to navigate a downhill left-hand turn and was ejected.

“A riding companion traveling behind the juvenile believes he was ejected from the machine during the initial impact with the embankment,” Austin Valladares, an officer, said. “The machine appeared to have flipped over multiple times, striking the juvenile at one point. The riding companion assisted him out of the ditch while other family members made a call for help.”

The boy was med-flighted by DHART to Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center in Lebanon.

Valladares said the department would like to remind all riders to “obey the speed limits and operate within their riding capabilities.”

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