February is a time for school vacations and, when the weather cooperates, winter outdoor fun like cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, and snowmobiling. It draws locals and folks from away out of their warm homes and into New Hampshire’s wild places.
Last weekend was a reminder that enjoying these activities entails serious risk and consequent responsibilities, especially when operating snowmobiles and hiking or skiing treacherous terrain.
Two recent fatal snowmobile accidents in the Androscoggin Valley, the latest this past weekend in Milan, highlight how quickly fun can turn to tragedy. Saturday’s accident in Milan claimed the life of Shawnee Hollis, 39, of North Brookfield, Massachusetts. New Hampshire Fish and Game said she couldn’t negotiate a turn, left the trail and struck a tree. She died the next day.
Cole Matthes, 22, of Portsmouth, was more fortunate — he’s still alive. Matthes, said Fish and Game, was repeatedly warned that he was solo hiking into harm’s way on Saturday, yet he kept on going as others were turned back. (It reminds us in no small measure of Pam Bales famed recount of her rescue of another hiker that became the viral news story “Footprints in the Storm” and the Hollywood film “Infinite Storm”.)
The Matthes rescue spanned 12 hours and endangered not only his own life but all those who set out to save him.
“Matthes called for rescue after making all these poor decisions, and putting himself in a situation that placed 11 other lives in danger in order to save his,” Fish and Game said.
“Even though the rescuers complete these heroic tasks with humility and passion there is still never ending concern as to why inexperienced solo hikers continue to push on.”
Follow safety guidelines. Know your abilities and the capabilities of your equipment or machine. Ride at a reasonable speed aware of trail conditions. Carry essential equipment, inform others of your whereabouts, and abstain from alcohol or drugs. Don’t let inexperience, negligence, or impairment ruin your fun in the snow or anyone else’s.
The observation has been made before but remains very much true in the case of Howard Brodsky, the new Citizen of the Year as announced by the Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce.
With many important topics facing New Hampshire and the nation right now, we will go with the top two: the proposal for an “adult” retreat for those with diaper issues, and the curious case of Taylor Swift and the Super Bowl.
There is much wisdom in the old and simple saying that if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. Regrettably, some well-intended legislators in Concord this week are moving to “fix” our Right-to-Know Law.
Now that national pundits and pols have left our fair little state, what to make of the 2024 presidential primaries?
As the dust settles on the 2024 New Hampshire primary, residents of the Granite State find themselves contemplating the future of an event that has long been a cornerstone of American politics, our first-in-the-nation primary. The question at the forefront for many: Does it even have a future?
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