Two teenage hikers were rescued a day apart this weekend in the White Mountains after breaking through deep snow and injuring their legs.
In both cases, a 16-year-old female was hiking with a group when one leg broke down through the snowpack as the other leg stayed on top. The action, known as postholing, can lead to hyperextension of the knee or ligament damage, or injury from hidden obstacles under the snow.
About 11 a.m. Saturday, state Fish and Game officers were notified that 16-year-old Anna Schuster of Sanibel, Fla., was at the Imp Shelter and couldn’t hike down after injuring her leg the day before. She was on multiday hike through the Carter-Moriah Range, east of the Presidential Range, as part of the Summit Achievement Group out of Stow, Maine, according to reports. She injured herself about 5 p.m. on the Carter-Moriah Trail, about a half mile from the Imp Shelter, Fish and Game officials said.
With assistance, she reportedly made it to the shelter and spent the night. The next day, more staff from the Summit Achievement Group headed up to the shelter to help Schuster down, but struggled to the point where they called for a rescue, officials said.
Fish and Game officers and rescue crews from several organizations reportedly hiked more than 4 miles, reaching Schuster about 2:45 p.m.
In all, about 30 volunteers took turns carrying her down the trail on a gurney through driving rain and slick trail conditions, officials said. Responders arrived at the road at approximately 8:30 p.m. where Schuster was transported to a hospital in a private vehicle, Fish and Game officials said.
The following day, 16-year-old Emma Lumb of Salem reportedly suffered a similar injury when her leg broke through the snow pack as she was hiking in the southern presidential range as part of a school group from the Bradford Christian Academy out of Haverhill, Mass.
Fish & Game said a member of Lumb’s group called 911 about 4:30 p.m. and said Lumb was on the Webster Cliff Trail between the AMC Mizpah Spring Hut and Mount Jackson and was unable to continue hiking.
Rescue crews hiked more than 3 miles to reach Lumb and carried her back down through heavy rain, thunder and lightning to an ambulance waiting at the Crawford Path trailhead, according to reports.
Fish and Game officials said they have responded to several rescue calls this spring for hikers hampered by the deep snow at higher elevation and on ridges.
“As a reminder to all who are seeking to get out and hike, there is still winter conditions in the White Mountains and a trek to any elevation this time of year still requires the use of winter gear, including snowshoes,” Fish and Game said in a statement.