Increase in engagement turns into defense of engagement in New Hampshire

Last weekend, Tim Duperre and 29-year-old Alexis Hardy were hiking on Mount Kearsarge on New Hampshire’s Barlow Trail when Hardy injured her lower leg so severely that she was unable to walk. Rescue workers came to the duo’s aid, placed him on a stretcher and began to pull him out.

Then Dupre raised the question.

“Duperrey asks for Hardy’s hand in marriage, presenting her with an engagement ring,” New Hampshire Fish & Game wrote in a press release. “she said yes!” According to the agency, Duperre had planned to propose to Hardy on his sojourn, and decided to stick with the plan despite the accident.

One of the most popular routes up Mount Kearsarge involves navigating 2.7-mile loop and an elevation gain of 1,102-feet along the Winslow and Barlow trails with 360-degree views. But trail conditions are often rocky, wet, and unstable, which can result in injury.

Despite her injury, Hardy eventually reached the summit, in a fitting fashion: rescue workers carried the bride-to-be to the top of Kearsarge before descending the mountain via the Rollins Trail. Upon arriving at the trailhead, first responders transported Hardy via ambulance to Concord Hospital for treatment.

“New Hampshire Fish and Game would like to congratulate Alexis Hardy and Tim Duperre on their engagement!” Officials wrote.

The mountains of New Hampshire are notorious for their capricious weather conditions and steep and variable terrain. In view of the incident, officials also reminded hikers to take precautions like carrying essential gear and purchasing luggage safe walking card (which supports New Hampshire SAR operations, and provides emergency coverage for rescue) before heading into the mountains.