Rescue crews in New Hampshire performed a technical rope rescue of a hiker who became stranded on Mount Washington on Sunday.
According to New Hampshire Fish and Game officials, technical rescue personnel were called to Mount Washington for a hiker who was stuck on a steep rock slab in Huntington Ravine at 4:05 a.m. on Sunday, July 12.
The hiker had reportedly made his way up a wet, slippery rock slab to a point of no return. The hiker was with companions, but they had separated while ascending the trail.
The stuck hiker described his predicament and indicated that he could not get down on his own without risking serious injury. Fish and Game advised the hiker to stay where he was and said a rescue response would be initiated after the sun came up.
Shortly after 5 a.m., rock climbers from the Androscoggin Valley Search and Rescue Team (AVSAR) were notified of the incident and began a response to the mountain with climbing gear.
After hiking up the mountain and setting up ropes, rescuers arrived in the vicinity of the stranded man shortly after 8 a.m. Due to the difficulty of the terrain and the need for increased safety precautions, it was not until 10 a.m. that the rescue crew had the man lowered to safety and back on the actual hiking trail.
By 11 a.m., the hiker and his companions had made it safely out to the Mount Washington Auto Road with the rescue crew. No injuries were reported, and the hikers were subsequently given rides back to their vehicle.
The stranded hiker was identified as an 18-year-old from Levis, Quebec. Officials said the hiker and his hiking companions began their hike at approximately 1:30 a.m., with the intention of getting to the summit of Mount Washington for sunrise.
While ascending the Huntington Ravine Trail in the darkness, the hiker had inadvertently gotten off trail, which led to his situation.
Officials said the hiker and his hiking companions were found to be well prepared with good gear and were in good physical condition.
They said the hiker was prepared with extra gear, which helped him shelter in place for the more than five hours that it took between his initial call and when he was safely back on the trail.
