LINCOLN –– A hiker was rescued from Mount Guyot by the New Hampshire Army National Guard after suffering a leg injury on August 31st. Mariapaz Carolina Gomez-Jones, 42, from Brooklyn, New York, was unable to bear weight on her leg and had to be airlifted to Littleton Regional Healthcare for treatment.
New Hampshire Fish and Game Conservation Officers were alerted about the injured hiker by the Appalachian Mountain Club (AMC) just before 9 p.m. Gomez-Jones was unable to continue her hike due to the injury, and had to be carried to the nearby Guyot Shelter where she spent the night.
In the early morning hours of September 1st, it was decided that Gomez-Jones’ condition had not improved, prompting a call to the New Hampshire Army National Guard for an aerial rescue. The difficult terrain would have required a 7.5-mile carryout, a grueling task that would have taken 16-20 hours.
The flight crew departed from Concord at 10 a.m., and by 11:15 a.m., Gomez-Jones was at Littleton Regional Healthcare being evaluated. The rescue community expressed gratitude for the aerial rescue, which saved a significant amount of time and effort.
Gomez-Jones was on the first day of a three-day, 32-mile hike around the Pemi Loop when she slipped on wet rock near her first day’s destination. A companion and a good Samaritan hiker helped carry her to the Guyot Shelter overflow tent site where they spent the night.
The AMC caretaker at the Guyot shelter provided assistance and radioed for help from the remote location. Despite the incident, Gomez-Jones and her companion were well prepared for the multi-day hike.
Steady rain across June, July, and August has made trails in New Hampshire slippery, leading to increased injuries, according to Conservation Officers.
Hikers are urged to wear appropriate footwear and visit hikesafe.com for safe hiking tips and a list of essential gear.
