Latest news with #HikeSafe
Yahoo
24-03-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
52-year-old Massachusetts hiker rescued from New Hampshire mountain
A 52-year-old hiker was rescued on Friday after being in distress on a New Hampshire mountain. According to NH Fish and Game on Friday March 21st around 8:45 a.m., officers were made aware of a hiker in distress off the Twinway Trail between Mount Guyot and South Twin Mountain. The hiker was able to text 911 from his phopne reporting that he had lost the trail and was in deep snow without snowshoes and that his phone was dying. The hiker was able to set up a shelter but would need navigational assistance to find the trail. The hiker was located in a remote section of the Pemi Wilderness and it was determined the best access would be from Gale River Road in Bethlehem, even though it would be a 6.5 mile hike. As Conservation Officers and volunteers from Pemi Valley Search and Rescue Team responded to the area, a call was made to the NH Army National Guard to see if they would be able to transport rescuers closer to the area or locate the hiker and fly him off the mountain. Two Conservation Officers and two Pemi SAR volunteers started off from Gale River Road and by 1:00 p.m. the NH Army National Guard was able to fly to Cannon Mountain Ski area where they staged hoping for the clouds to lift. Around 4 p.m. the NH Army National Guard returned to Concord as the weather had not improved above 3000 feet. At 5:20 p.m. the first rescuers arrived with the hiker who was located a short distance south of the Twinway Trail. His gear was packed and he was provided with snowshoes. There the hiker was identified as 52-year-old Gary Sullivan of Acton, Massachusetts. Sullivan was prepared for a two-day excursion and had a tent, sleeping bag, extra clothing, traction devices, food, water, the ten essentials, and even a Hike Safe card. The only item he lacked that would have proven helpful was a pair of snowshoes. Sullivan was extremely grateful for the assistance provided and for the attempt by the NH Army National Guard. This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available. Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW
Boston Globe
24-03-2025
- General
- Boston Globe
Mass. man rescued from waist-deep snow in N.H. while hiking near Mount Guyot, officials say
With no cell service, Sullivan sent an emergency 911 text around 8:45 a.m., telling authorities his phone was low on battery. He said he had supplies to set up a shelter but would need help finding the trail. Authorities determined that Sullivan was in a remote section of the Pemi Wilderness, a 6 1/2-mile hike from the nearest access road, officials said. Get N.H. Morning Report A weekday newsletter delivering the N.H. news you need to know right to your inbox. Enter Email Sign Up Rescuers responded to the area. Meanwhile, authorities also called the New Hampshire Army National Guard to see if rescuers could be flown close to Sullivan's location or if he could be flown off the mountain, the statement said. Advertisement The National Guard responded, flying to the Cannon Mountain ski area where they waited for weather conditions to improve closer to Sullivan's location. But by 4 p.m. Friday, the clouds had not yet lifted above 3,000 feet, prompting the crew to return to Concord, N.H., officials said. At about 5:20 p.m., rescuers arrived on foot at Sullivan's location, a short distance south of the Twinway Trail, officials said. Rescuers provided him with snowshoes, and by 5:45 p.m., the group began the 6 1/2-mile hike back to Gale River Road, the nearest access road. The group arrived at the access road shortly after 10 p.m., officials said. Sullivan was not injured. Sullivan had brought with him a tent, sleeping bag, extra clothing, traction devices, food, water, and even had a New Hampshire Voluntary Hike Safe card. A Hike Safe Card costs $25 per person per year, and proceeds go to the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department's Search and Rescue Fund. Card holders are generally exempt from paying for search and rescue costs. Advertisement 'The only item he lacked that would have proven helpful were a pair of snowshoes,' New Hampshire Fish and Game said in the statement. Officials said that although Sullivan had read reports stating that snowshoes were not necessary, in the area of Mount Guyot where he encountered waist-deep snow, snowshoes were needed. Officials from New Hampshire Fish and Game warned winter hikers that snowshoes are generally needed in areas with snow deeper than knee level. 'Winter conditions persist at elevation and as snow continues to soften, snowshoes are a must to avoid post holing,' or sinking into deep snow, the agency said in the statement. Sarah Mesdjian can be reached at
Yahoo
04-02-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Two hikers from Massachusetts rescued on Mt. Washington
Two Massachusetts hikers were rescued after becoming stranded on Mt. Washington. On February 2 around 6 p.m. NH Fish and Game was contacted after 911 received a call about hikers lost off-trail adjacent to the Jewell Trail on Mt. Washington. Authorities quickly learned that Kathryn McKee, 51, of Fayville, Massachusetts, and Beata Lelacheur, 54, of Westborough, Massachusetts were stuck in very deep snow at about 5000 feet of elevation. After plotting GPS coordinates provided by 911, it was determined the two were only 34 feet from the trail. A Conservation Officer was able to speak to them via cell phone and directed them towards the trail. Over the next two hours, McKee and Lelacheur fought through chest-deep snow and 'spruce traps' to try and get back to the trail. They ended up on the trail several times but could not follow it as it had been completely erased by wind and snow. After multiple attempts and calls with Fish and Game, the two needed to huddle up in the snow to keep warm and wait for help. 'By 8:30 p.m., Fish and Game began to conduct a full-blown rescue operation. At the time, weather conditions at the summit of Mt. Washington had temperatures of -2 degrees and sustained winds at 50-60 mph, gusting significantly higher. Mt. Washington State Park was contacted and readied their snow cat to bring rescuers to the summit. Personnel from Mountain Rescue Service (MRS) and members of the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department Advanced Search and Rescue Team were called upon to respond to the mountain and attempt the rescue,' NH Fish and Game said in a release. Around 10:30 p.m. rescuers began to arrive at the base of the Mount Washington Auto Road to prepare for the ascent. The state park's snow cat departed at 11:00 p.m. with nine skilled rescuers, making it to the summit just before midnight. The team then ventured out into the whiteout conditions. By 1:50 AM, the rescue team successfully located McKee and Lelacheur. Both hikers were alive and coherent but suffering from cold-weather injuries. Emergency shelters were set up immediately, and warming efforts began. The process took an hour, but by 3 a.m., the hikers were able to move on their own, and the rescue team started the descent down the trail toward the Cog Railway Base Station. By 4:15 AM, the hikers and rescuers reached the Base Station, where they were met by personnel from Twin Mountain Ambulance. One of the hikers was transported to Littleton Regional Hospital for further evaluation and treatment of cold-weather injuries. Both hikers were well-prepared with a variety of winter gear and HikeSafe cards, which offer voluntary hiker insurance. 'This incident is perfect example of the need to prepare for the unexpected. Both hikers were prepared and had winter hiking experience, but ultimately encountered unforeseen conditions. Had they not had the amount of gear with them that they did, it is unlikely that they would have survived until rescuers reached them. Although technology and experience is certainly helping to find people more quickly, the fact remains that Mother Nature has the final say, and preparedness, above all, is the difference between life and death in the mountains of New Hampshire.' This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available. Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW
