Rescuers had to overcome bad weather and deep snow to rescue the hiker in a remote section of the White Mountains.
A hiker who became lost in deep snow in a remote section of the Pemigewasset Wilderness in New Hampshire was rescued on Friday.
According to New Hampshire Fish and Game officials, they received a report of a hiker in distress off the Twinway Trail between Mount Guyot and South Twin Mountain at 8:45 a.m. on Friday, March 21.
With no cell service in the area, the hiker was still able to text 911 from his iPhone. He reported he had lost the trail and was in deep snow without snowshoes.
The solo hiker said that his phone was going dead and that he was able to set up a shelter, but he would need navigational assistance to find the trail.
The hiker was located in a remote section of the Pemi Wilderness and rescuers determined the best access would be from Gale River Road in Bethlehem, even though it would be a 6.5-mile hike.
As conservation officers and volunteers from Pemi Valley Search and Rescue Team responded to the area, a call was made to the New Hampshire Army National Guard to see if they would be able to transport rescuers closer to the area or locate the hiker and fly him off the mountain. Unfortunately weather at the time would not allow for a flight into the White Mountains.
Two conservation officers and two Pemi SAR volunteers started off from Gale River Road and by 1 p.m. the Army National Guard was able to fly to Cannon Mountain Ski area where they staged, hoping for the clouds to lift.
At 4 p.m., the Army National Guard returned to Concord as the weather had not improved above 3,000 feet.
At 5:20 p.m. the first rescuers arrived with the hiker, who was located a short distance south of the Twinway Trail. His gear was packed and he was provided with snowshoes and at 5:45 p.m. the group started the 6.5-mile hike back to Gale River Road.
At 10:05 p.m. the rescue team arrived back at Gale River Road with the uninjured hiker who was identified as Gary Sullivan, 52, of Acton, Massachusetts.
Officials said Sullivan was prepared for a two-day excursion and had a tent, sleeping bag, extra clothing, traction devices, food, water, the 10 essentials and even a Hike Safe card. They said the only item he lacked that would have been helpful were a pair of snowshoes.
In researching his hike, Sullivan had reportedly read reports that traction devices were necessary but snowshoes were not needed. This was true for the majority of his hike until he reached the area of Mount Guyot where he encountered waist-deep snow.
He took shelter for the night of March 20, just west of Mount Guyot, and started towards Galehead on the morning of March 21.
Shortly after starting, he lost the trail and was floundering in waist-deep snow, eventually losing the trail.
Knowing he would need help and with his cell phone going dead, he made the text to 911 for help.
Officials said winter conditions persist at elevation and, as snow continues to soften, snowshoes are a must to avoid postholing.