Two teenage hikers struggling in cold, wind-driven rain had to be rescued near the summit of Mount Washington Saturday night.
According to New Hampshire Fish and Game officials, conservation officers received a 911 call about two teenage hikers, ages 18 and 17, in need of help on Mount Washington at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, April 18.
The two hikers were reportedly at the summit and were seeking shelter from wind-driven precipitation next to a building. One of the hikers was also reportedly having significant leg pain from an unknown ailment.
The air temperature was 38 degrees, and high winds and snow were in the forecast.
Conservation officers contacted an employee of Mount Washington State Park, who went out and began searching for the two. Officials with the Mount Washington Auto Road were also contacted, and they advised that they had cleared the road suitably enough to get vehicle traffic to the summit. Conservation officers began responding in four-wheel-drive pickup trucks to try and get to the summit and back ahead of incoming snow.
By roughly 8 p.m., the two hikers were located by the state park employee, brought inside the state park building, and had first aid rendered to address the leg pain.
By 9 p.m., a conservation officer was on scene and began driving the two hikers back down the Auto Road. By 10 p.m., all parties involved were safely off of the mountain.
