New Hampshire officials said they intend to bill four unprepared hikers who had to be rescued on Franconia Ridge last night.
New Hampshire Fish and Game officials said the four hikers did not have lights, were not properly dressed, and did not have enough food or water for the hike.
Fish and Game officials received a report of four hiker stuck on Franconia Ridge at 8:48 p.m. on Friday, August 14.
The information provided officials stated that one hiker in the group was having difficulty breathing and had sore legs.
Conservation officers called the hikers to gather more information and learned that the group did not have lights, were low on water and food and were not properly dressed for the conditions.
Due to the strong winds and cold temperatures above 5,000 feet, a rescue call was made. Five volunteers from the Pemigewasset Valley Search and Rescue Team responded to the trailhead along with a conservation officer.
The volunteers left the trailhead at 10:35 p.m. and hiked more than four miles to Franconia Ridge and then to Mount Lincoln, where they located the four hikers at 1:15 a.m. on Saturday morning. The hikers were four 18-year-olds from New Jersey.
The hikers were given lights, food, water, and warm clothing, and then guided to the summit of Mount Lafayette and then down the Old Bridal Path back to the trailhead. They arrived at the trailhead at 9:07 a.m. on Saturday morning.
The hikers had reportedly started their hike at 3:30 p.m. and did not have headlamps, or enough food and water to complete the seven- to nine-hour hike.
Officials said the due to the group’s lack of preparation, the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department intends to bill the hikers for the cost of the rescue.
