Outgoing HALT president Morrie Gasser reportedly sustained injuries after a fall during a hike in New Hampshire on Monday.
Outgoing Hopkinton Area Land Trust president Morrie Gasser reportedly fell and became injured during a hike in New Hampshire on Monday afternoon.
According to a press release issued by the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department (NHFG) on Tuesday morning, the organization received a call at around 2:30 p.m. on Monday about an injured hiker on the Glen Boulder Trail in Sargent’s Purchase, New Hampshire. Parties hiking with Gasser called New Hampshire State Police and reported he had taken a fall, suffering a head and neck injury. According to the press release, Gasser could not move and did not have any feeling in his extremities.
The group reportedly was 4 miles from the closest parking lot at the time Gasser sustained his injuries, presenting a challenge for the NHFG. The agency requested a helicopter rescue from the New Hampshire Army National Guard and called up volunteers from Androscoggin Valley Search and Rescue and Lakes Region Search and Rescue in the event the helicopter could not reach the area.
The press release noted that if air rescue was not possible, volunteers and conservation officers would have to conduct a “time-consuming, lengthy carryout.”
A Blackhawk helicopter was able to land nearby about three hours after the initial 911 call. Flight medics assessed Gasser before carrying him back to the helicopter. He was flown to Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center in Lebanon, New Hampshire.
Gasser, a longtime member of HALT and its board of directors, recently announced plans to vacate his role as he moves out of Hopkinton. He joined the nonprofit “as soon as it started accepting members” sometime in the 1990s, he explained, and became a board member in 2015. He took on the role as president when founder and former president Dave Goldman retired from the position in 2019.
The Independent reached out to Gasser, the NHFG and HALT for more information and will update this story as more information comes available.
I am Morrie’s former brother-in-law. (His wife, my sister Kate. Is now deceased.) My wife and I are so sorry this has happened. Morrie is such a wonderful person. Our hearts and love are with him and his partner and family.
It goes without saying, lots of people are wishing for the best outcome for Morrie, who has done immeasurable work for this town.
Our hearts and prayers are with Morrie and his family.
Dave Goldman
Keeping Morrie close in thoughts and prayers. So sorry to hear of this and so hoping for the best.