CONTACT:
Sergeant Glen Lucas
603-788-4850
603-271-3361
July 17, 2023
Sargent’s Purchase, NH – A Massachusetts woman became dehydrated and felt ill attempting to hike down Mt. Washington after taking the Cog Railway up the mountain. At approximately 11:45 a.m. on Friday, July 14, 2023, 58-year-old Veronica Hagerman of Attleboro, Massachusetts, took the Cog Railway to the summit of Mt. Washington with her husband and then decided to hike down via Crawford Path to the Lakes of the Clouds AMC hut where they ate lunch. After finishing lunch they continued to hike down the mountain by taking the Ammonoosuc Ravine Trail. They were attempting to hike back to their vehicle that was parked at the Cog Railway.
While attempting to make this hike down, Hagerman started to become dehydrated and felt sick. Hagerman’s husband called 911 and asked for assistance at approximately 7:45 p.m. This call prompted a response from New Hampshire Fish and Game. A Conservation Officer requested assistance from AMC to hike some fluids and food down to Hagerman in an attempt to keep her moving down the mountain and avoid carrying Hagerman down the mountain in a litter.
AMC employees from Lakes of the Clouds Hut were able to reach the hikers and give them food and fluid. Those AMC volunteers had to leave all supplies with Hagerman and hike back up to Lakes in the Clouds AMC Hut in an attempt to avoid a pending lighting storm which can be dangerous above tree line.
As AMC Volunteers headed back up the mountain, leaving the supplies with Hagerman, a Conservation Officer and three Twin Mountain Ambulance Members hiked up the trail from the Cog Railway and met with Hagerman around 11:00 p.m. Hagerman was given more fluids and food and after having clear vitals, assisted down the mountain using trekking poles.
Hiking with assistance from rescuers, Hagerman was able to make it out to the Base Station of The Cog Railway, arriving safely at 1:20 AM. Hagerman was evaluated by EMS personnel once roadside and ultimately transported by Twin Mountain Ambulance to Littleton Regional Hospital for further evaluation and treatment.