Two separate groups of unprepared hikers suffering from hypothermia had to be rescued on Mount Lafayette in New Hampshire Friday night, and a volunteer rescuer was reportedly injured during the rescue.
According to New Hampshire Fish and Game officials, at least one of the hikers was unresponsive due to severe hypothermia, and the hikers had no lights on them or warm clothing.
The rescues began at 8 p.m. on Friday, June 19 when conservation officers received a report of a group of hikers at the summit of Mount Lafayette in Franconia, New Hampshire who were suffering from hypothermia in cold, wet, rainy conditions.
Officials said the hikers reported they had no visibility, no lights, and no warm clothing. A call was made to the AMC and Greenleaf Hut crew on Mount Lafayette to have two crewmembers hike up and assist.
The AMC crew hiked up towards the summit of Mount Lafayette and located the hikers .15 miles below the summit.
One 19-year-old hiker from New Jersey was unresponsive, and suffering from severe hypothermia. The second hiker, also a 19-year-old from New Jersey, was reportedly cold and wet, but still alert and also suffering from hypothermia.
The AMC crew began warming the hikers by providing shelter and dry clothing. Due to the condition of the hikers, conservation officers made calls to the Pemigewasset Valley Search and Rescue Team and the Lakes Region Search and Rescue Team to assist in carrying the unresponsive hiker from the summit to the Greenleaf Hut.
While responding to the first call, a second rescue call came in on Mount Lafayette for another group of hikers who were wet, cold and also suffering from hypothermia.
The second group of hikers were about 1.1 miles from the trailhead. Rescuers who were responding to the first rescue call were able to provide lights, dry clothing, and assist them back to the trailhead.
Rescuers arrived at the unresponsive hiker’s location at 1:10 a.m. He was then carried down to the Greenleaf Hut, arriving at 2:55 am. Once at the hut, rescuers were able to get shelter from the weather and warm the hiker.
Unfortunately, officials said that while carrying the hiker in the inclement weather, a volunteer rescuer was “severely injured” and needed to be helped back to the trailhead. No other information on the volunteer’s injury was immediately available.
Over the next couple hours, rescuers treated the group of hikers for hypothermia and cold-related injuries.
While at the Greenleaf Hut, the unresponsive hiker’s condition reportedly began improving and he regained consciousness.
Once the group was warm and dry, the rescuers assisted the hiker down the Old Bridle Path, arriving at the trailhead at 7:55 a.m.
The hiker was transported from the trailhead by the LinWood Ambulance to Littleton Regional Hospital for further medical treatment.
