Two hikers who were reportely suffering from hypothermia after falling in icy water were rescued in New Hampshire over the weekend.
On Saturday evening at 7 p.m., New Hampshire Fish and Game conservation officers were notified of two hikers suffering hypothermia on the Lincoln Brook Trail in Franconia. The hikers had reported to staff with Dartmouth Outdoor Programs via a Garmin InReach device that they had fallen into Lincoln Brook, getting their clothing wet.
Advice was sent back to the party and shortly thereafter a request was made for rescue. Coordinates put the pair 8.5 miles from the trailhead. No further messages were received.
At 2:30 a.m., two conservation officers reached the hikers, who had taken shelter in a tent and were inside sleeping bags. Dry clothing was provided to the two hikers and by 3:30 a.m. they were able to start making their way back to the trailhead, where they arrived at 7:15 a.m..
The hiking party consisted of Xander Dalke, 20, of Hanover, New Hampshire, and his sister Aylen Dalke, 18, of South Hadley, Massachusetts.
They had planned a two-day hike around Owl’s Head. They had departed around 7 a.m. on Saturday from Lincoln Woods intending to spend the night at Thirteen Falls.
After falling into Lincoln Brook, they changed into dry clothing. Unfortunately, they fell in the brook again, soaking their remaining clothing. They decided to set up camp 2.5 miles short of their destination hoping to warm themselves.
Once they stopped hiking and set up the tent site the early stages of hypothermia set in. Knowing temperatures would drop over night they made some notifications on the Garmin InReach device to Dartmouth Outdoor Programs Staff.
After making notifications they turned off the device to conserve batteries, not allowing the ability to get updates on their condition as cell service is nonexistent in the area.
Officials said the two were well prepared with equipment.
