N.H. officials say hiker unprepared for winter hiking conditions
Orange, N.H. — New Hampshire Fish and Game officials say a Massachusetts man was rescued from Mount Cardigan after injuring his leg near the summit and suffering hypothermia due to high winds and temperatures in the teens.
Lt. James Kneeland said 31-year-old Mark Ireland of Somerville, Mass., was hiking alone and was not prepared for winter conditions above the tree line.
Authorities received a 911 call at 2:20 Friday afternoon reporting the injured hiker.
Firefighters from Canaan, Enfield and Grafton, along with members of Upper Valley Wilderness Response Team and Fish and Game officials, reached Ireland near the summit about 5 p.m.
He was carried by litter 1.5 miles to the trailhead and transported to Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center for treatment.
Officials say Ireland was lucky rescuers reached him quickly.
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