A hiker on Mount Washington was rescued Thursday after she activated an emergency locator beacon when she became lost in difficult conditions.
According to New Hampshire Fish and Wildlife officials, Amy Baker, 45, of Easton, New Hampshire, activated the beacon at roughly 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday. Prior to activating the beacon, she had texted a friend to say she had become lost on the Ammonoosuc Ravine Trail because of high winds and drifting snow above the treeline. She ended up in waist deep snow and was moving slowly.
Using information from the beacon, conservation officers responded, hiking roughly 1.7 miles up the trail and then bushwhacking off trail to Baker’s location. She was located at 1:55 a.m. on Thursday.
Officers were able to assist her, slowly hiking down the trail and arriving back at the trailhead at 4 a.m.
Officials said Barker had most of the essential equipment needed for a winter hike, but she had left her snowshoes in her vehicle because she did not plan to go off trail.
Prior to hiking, Baker had purchased a 2018 hike safe card.