After bushwhacking up to
peak 3314" from the Franconia Brook Trail, I decided to continue on along the ridge to Bondcliff. The bushwhack up to Bondcliff was one of the most difficult bushwhacks I've done. Upon reaching the Bondcliff trail I finished my lunch then continued up to Bondcliff for great views, pics, and a beer.
At 3:15 I started down the trail. Ian had been hiking up the Bondcliff Trail in shorts, tee shirt, and trail runners when he slipped on a wet rock and broke his ankle. He layered up and headed back down the trail at that point. It was about 4:00 when I caught up to him just below the small slide. He had descended about a mile and was exhausted. It was clear he wouldn't make it out under his own power at his current pace in less than 16 hours or so. After speaking with him about it a bit more I left him the rest of my food and I told him to sit tight and I'd go get the cavalry.
I reached the Lincoln Police Station at about 6:00 and told them the situation. While they were contacting Fish & Game I borrowed a large coffee dispenser and got it filled with a pot and-a-half of Dunkins Finest. I also bought some food and a liter of Mountain Dew. My first Dew of the day.
After arriving back at the police station I spoke with someone from Fish & Game via phone and was informed they'd be up but it would be a while. I then went back to Lincoln Woods emptied my pack and reloaded it with the stuff Ian and I would need to get through the long cold night including all that hot coffee. I was back on the trail at 7:15.
I reached Ian at about 9:30. he had come down the trail about a half mile. in the process he had fallen a few times, hit his head, and was a bit wet from traipsing through the brooks. He also said he'd been going in and out of shock.
It was at this time I learned that Ian was allergic to coffee...Oh well, it was good coffee. After getting some food in him we worked on getting his feet and legs a bit warmer then I looked around for a place for a campfire should the need arise. Then I took a seat beside him, kept him talking, and waited for the cavalry. Fortunately, we didn't have to wait long, the first Fish & Game officers arrived at about 10:15 followed soon after by members of the Pemi Valley Search and Rescue Team.
Ian had some hot tea and was loaded into the litter and by 10:40 was on his way down the trail. We carried him to a waiting pickup just south of the Franconia Brook bridge and at about 3:00 he arrived at the ambulance waiting at Lincoln Woods.
Though it was a long night, in some ways it was fun, and it was a great learning experience for me and hopefully for Ian as well.
