Two hikers were safely rescued from Mount Lafayette in New Hampshire on Dec. 13, according to a news release from New Hampshire Fish and Game (NHFG).
The men — Shane Squires, 35, and Robert Conlon, 41 — began hiking the nine-mile Greenleaf Trail around 1 p.m. local time on Friday, Dec. 12. While descending from the summit, they lost the trail in harsh conditions that included heavy winds, “waist-high” snow and temperatures around 10°F.
At 9:45 p.m., NHFG conservation officers were contacted by the hikers, who reported they could not continue because one of them had a leg injury. NHFG said the two “lost their composure” and did not follow guidance offered over the phone.
At 11:25 p.m., conservation officers and volunteers from the Pemi Valley Search and Rescue Team began the response. The Army National Guard was also notified and determined a helicopter rescue might be possible.
As the night went on, NHFG said one of the hikers developed severe hypothermia and drifted in and out of consciousness.
Around 2:30 a.m., an Army National Guard crew that had assembled in Concord, N.H., arrived at Franconia Notch. But heavy cloud cover around 3,700 feet prevented them from reaching the hikers.
About 15 minutes later, the first ground rescue team reached the pair, provided additional clothing and worked to warm them up. Responders also determined the leg injury was not as serious “as had been reported,” NHFG said.
At 3:00 a.m., the group began the return trip. By 5:30 a.m., rescuers and the hikers reached the trailhead, and the men were able to hike out with assistance.
Squires and Conlon later drove themselves to a hospital, where they were treated for frostbite.
NHFG said the hikers were not properly prepared for the route and conditions. “The two were ill-equipped for a hike of this magnitude,” the agency said, adding that they lacked appropriate clothing and were relying on a phone for navigation when they lost the trail.
In closing, NHFG urged hikers in the White Mountains to prioritize preparation and follow the HikeSafe hiker responsibility code. “Rescues of this magnitude and conditions put rescue personnel at great risk,” the agency said.
