08/08/2024
NH PAW RESCUE - Incident Report
“R***r” - August 5-6, 2024
At 5:40 pm on Monday, August 5, 2024, NH PAW RESCUE was notified about a dog (R***r, 85 lbs, 8 yo) with owner and friend in need of assistance at approximately 4900’ on the northwest side of Mt Madison in the Presidential Range. The specific location was on the Pine Link trail and .4 miles northeast of the AMC’s Madison Spring Hut.
While on a traverse of Mt Jefferson, Mt Adams, and Mt Madison, R***r’s owner noticed his slowing pace and what seemed like minor paw pad damage on Mt Adams. The group then bypassed Mt Madison to head straight down Pine Link to a waiting car. At .4 miles past Madison Spring hut, R***r stopped hiking due to significant soft tissue damage on his paw pads. The weather was worsening with incoming thunderstorms, some predicted to be severe. The group lacked headlamps and enough gear to survive the incoming weather and night conditions. R***r’s owner did have a dog rescue sling, but the owner and friend were unable to physically carry a dog of his size.
NH Paw Rescue made a plan to hike up the Valley Way trail, assist the group, get them to the safety of the hut, and descend the Valley Way. Additionally, the owner’s partner (who was capable of carrying R***r) was hiking up the Pine Link trail to assist. The owner’s partner reached R***r’s group and was able to get them to the safety of Madison Spring Hut at approximately 10:00 pm (this was a significant commendable effort in rough terrain and weather, with the .4 miles taking 1.5 hours). NH Paw Rescue team members reached the hut shortly thereafter, administered 1st aid to R***r, and helped the group recover from mild hypothermia. It should be noted that the Madison Spring Hut staff provided significant support at this time and during the whole rescue.
Due to weather/trail conditions and the condition of R***r’s group, it was decided to postpone the carryout until the next morning. One member of NH Paw Rescue spent the night at the hut to coordinate. On Tuesday, August 6, NH Paw Rescue team members and additional volunteers hiked up and brought R***r down the Valley Way trail in a rescue sling, arriving at Appalachia by 2:50 pm.
ANALYSIS: There are many takeaways to be learned from R***r’s experience:
-Check the weather before heading out for your hike and consider less committing options if inclement weather is forecasted.
-Bring dog 1st aid supplies including bandaging, vet wrap, and paw booties. Most dogs will not like having paw booties on, but they can enable a dog to walk out with minor paw pad damage.
-Carefully check paw pads frequently, and address any paw pad damage before it gets worse. Keep in mind that dogs don’t often show early signs of paw distress (as many owners expect) and may only exhibit symptoms when it is severe.
-Headlamps are a critical item when hiking, even when you think your hike will be completed well before dark. If you can’t see, it can be difficult or impossible to move.
-Bring enough gear to survive inclement weather in the mountains. Hypothermia during the summer in the White Mountains is a real threat and has led to many fatalities. You don’t have to bring a huge pack with luxury items, but at least bring enough gear to live through inclement weather and a longer than expected adventure.
-If you buy a dog rescue sling, practice with it at home and on local trails so you know how to use it and know you can physically handle evacuating your dog.
-Keep in mind that dog rescue help in the White Mountains is not available through NH Fish & Game and official SAR teams. If volunteers are available to assist your dog, it may take many hours (or overnight) for help to reach you.
The peaks of the northern Presidential Range (S to N: Washington, Clay, Jefferson, Adams, Madison) have very rough terrain and sharp rocks that can easily damage dog paws. This is especially true on less traveled trails. Dog paw damage can progress from minor to significant in a short distance due to the abrasive rock surface. Significant dog paw damage can subsequently turn your hike into an emergency for the dog and humans. You should strongly consider leaving your dog at home when hiking these peaks, especially if the dog is large and/or older.
COMMENT POLICY: NH Paw Rescue publishes incident reports to keep the public informed about our work and to educate hikers about best practices when hiking with dogs. You are welcome to ask questions or offer advice about hiking with dogs. Please don’t post comments criticizing or shaming dog owners — they are not helpful and increase our workload monitoring social media.
