CONTACT:
CO II Christopher McKee
603-744-5470
603-271-3361
August 2, 2022

Franconia, NH – At approximately 3:40 p.m. on Monday, August 1, 2022, the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department received a call about an injured hiker on the Franconia Ridge approximately 0.5 miles from the summit of Mt. Lafayette. The hiker, who was identified as Matthew Lawrence, 34, of Norwell, Massachusetts, had fallen and suffered a serious injury leaving him unable to walk. Two members of his party hiked to the Greenleaf Hut to request assistance from the AMC.

Due to the nature of the injury and location of approximately 4.5 miles from the nearest trailhead, a call was made to the New Hampshire Army National Guard in Concord. The Army National Guard deployed a helicopter and crew and responded to the Franconia Ridge location. Two AMC members hiked to the location from the Greenleaf Hut to assist the Guard in locating Lawrence from the air. At approximately 6:15 p.m., the helicopter was able to hoist Lawrence and one hiking companion off the ridge and flew them to Littleton Regional Hospital for medical treatment.

Lawrence and his hiking group had previously hiked in the White Mountains on numerous occasions. They were all well prepared for the hike and planned to be out for multiple days.