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This article was published 17/11/2017 (1038 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Premier Brian Pallister has suffered a broken left arm and other injuries from a serious fall while hiking with his wife, Esther, in New Mexico.

He was scheduled to fly back to Manitoba on Friday, the premier’s office said.

SUBMITTED Premier Brian Pallister broke his left arm when he fell in the Gila National Forest.

Carl Christiansen, an officer with the New Mexico State Police, said the incident happened Monday on the Mogollon Creek Trail, a part of the immense Gila National Forest that’s classified as rugged terrain.

Christiansen said the premier’s wife walked out to the trailhead where she could get a cellphone signal to call 911.

One officer stayed with her, while a second walked in to find and assess Pallister.

"We did not initiate a search-and-rescue mission," Christiansen said.

He didn’t know how far the Pallisters had hiked, or where and how the premier had fallen, but said the trail goes quickly to steady and steep elevation.

"It’s a very mountainous area — it’s definitely not flatland up there," the officer said.

"Parts of the Gila, some are very extreme, and others more gradual. It’s pretty far out."

Christiansen said police gave Pallister initial medical attention, but could not say if he walked out on his own. "In rugged terrain, they have access to an ATV and a four-by-four truck," he said.

"They would have had an ambulance meet them at the trailhead."

Pallister’s staff said he spent one night in hospital in Silver City, N.M.

It was not immediately clear on Friday where the Pallisters spent the rest of the week.

In a statement on Friday, the premier’s office said: "While on a trip in New Mexico with his wife, Esther, Premier Brian Pallister suffered injuries while hiking in the Gila Wilderness, including numerous cuts and bruises and compound fractures in his left arm, resulting from a serious fall."

A compound fracture occurs when a broken bone pierces the skin.

Pallister is right-handed.

His staff said, upon his return, the premier will be re-evaluated to determine if surgery is necessary. He will continue to work on preparations for the opening of a new session of the Manitoba legislature and Tuesday’s speech from the throne.

He will be resting at home with his family this weekend, his office said.

Press secretary Olivia Billson said Pallister’s staff will not release any further details about his fall or injuries, and would not say when he was due to arrive in Winnipeg.

The Gila National Forest is 3.3 million acres of mountains and forest in southwest New Mexico, which the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) boasts has unparalleled hiking and horseback trails.

It was the first designated wilderness area when it was established in 1924.

Mary Zabinski, the USFS southwestern region public affairs director, said from Albuquerque, N.M., that forest staff weren’t aware on Friday just where the Manitoba premier had fallen.

"From the trailhead, it’s an easy two miles (3.2 kilometres) with a gradual incline, from grass up to pinyon-juniper/grass/mesquite. At the 74 Mountain point, vegetation transitions from pinyon-juniper into some ponderosa pine," Zabinski said.

"The local folks said it’s up a wash, then at the base of the mountain zigzagging (and) switchbacking up to the ridgeline, with the trail then dropping down into Mogollon Creek itself, dropping down into ponderosa pine and mixed conifer.

"(It’s) rugged in that area; lots of flooding following the fire season this year, with some sections of the trail washed away."

The Mogollon Creek Trail starts about 50 kilometres from Silver City and can only be reached by a series of dirt and gravel back roads.

Government online information and hikers’ blogs say the trail the Pallisters hiked is 29 kilometres long, and after the first three kilometres along rocky desert, gains 853 metres as it climbs rapidly.

There is an extended ridge at one point, and a linked trail leads by a long downward slope to a remote body of water renowned for trout fishing.

At its peak, the trail is at 1,633 metres, or more than a mile, above sea level.

nick.martin@freepress.mb.ca