Northeast Outdoor Guides founder Tim Hallock, who was found frozen in the White Mountains on Sunday. (Northeast Mountain Guides/Facebook Photo)
Those who spend much time in the mountains often talk about how anything can happen to anyone at anytime. Rarely has that been more evident than with the recent death of hiker Tim Hallock, whose frozen body was found Sunday in New Hampshire’s White Mountains.
Hallock, 54, of Orient, New York, was found by two hikers on the Castle Ravine Trail near the treeline between Mount Adams and Mount Jefferson.
Often when people get into trouble in the White Mountains, it can easily be blamed on poor preparation or inexperience leading to poor judgement. That certainly doesn’t seem to be the case with Hallock, who was a registered outdoor guide who had extensive experience climbing in winter.
Hallock was the founder of Northeast Mountain Guides, which he started around the same time he became a New York Department of Environmental Conservation licensed trail guide in 2005. He was also serving as 1st Vice President of NYSOGA, New York State Outdoor Guides Association, where, among other duties, he instructed guides on water safety and winter mountaineering skills.
Hallock had an impressive adventure resume. In 2006, he became the first person to transit the Adirondack Park on the Northville-Placid Trail in winter, solo, with no re-supply. The 135-mile journey, which, according to the Northeast Mountain Guides Facebook page, was more like 145 with detours, took just under 16 days.
Nicknamed “The Yeti,” Hallock was currently working on his “Winter 115”, an effort to winter summit all 115 mountains in the Northeast over 4000 feet. He reportedly had at least 65 peaks climbed at the time of his death.