Posted on 06/21/2022 12:31:24 PM PDT by SamAdams76
CONWAY, New Hampshire — A hiker who was suffering from severe hypothermia on a New Hampshire trail near Mt. Washington died at a hospital hours after rescuers faced driving rain, blowing snow, and winds gusting to over 80 mph to reach him, conservation officers said.
The hiker was rescued from Gulfside Trail on Saturday night. Xi Chen, 53, of Andover, Massachusetts, was overcome by severe weather conditions.
Fish and Game Department officers said they heard from his wife, who said she received a text from Chen saying he was cold and wet and couldn't continue on.
“He further wrote that he felt he would die without a rescue," the department said in a news release.
Conservation officers received multiple rescue calls that day from hikers who were on the high-elevation summits and ridgelines of the Presidential Range.
“The conditions in the high peaks were treacherous," the news release said.
Rescuers carried Chen over a mile up to the summit of Mt. Washington, where he was placed on a truck and driven down the mountain's auto road to a hospital in Berlin. He was unable to be revived after several hours of life-saving efforts, the news release said.
Mr K (not the one on this forum) said when I mentioned this story that he was familiar with Mt Washington and said it’s famous for extremely bad, suddenly-changing weather.
“Turn back now if the weather is bad.”
*reads sign*
Me: Oh, what a bunch of pussies! *throws jacket into some bushes, empties canteen onto ground*
Yes, I just replied to someone else that Mr K (not the one on this forum), who is a climbing enthusiast, said to me that it’s really well-known that it can be 80 degrees in July and there will be a terrible winter storm on Mt Washington. Too bad the guy didn’t realize that. I went hiking with just a light jacket once and only a really small bottle of water around the Canon City, Colorado area and me and my companion - we weren’t exactly lost, but we climbed down a rather steep gorge and I was afraid to try to climb back up, so we decided to hike out. How far could it be? As it turned out, it was a LOT further. We were finally rescued by some guys who were fishing illegally.
Always take a sweater or jacket and plenty of water, and a hat.
LOL!
I worked on mountains most of my life in the winter at night. It’s a whole different world near the summit as it is at the base.
I bet you have some interesting stories.
This is true.
Many, I’ve seen a lot of things, been in all kind of weather. Crawling around on mountains at night in heavy equipment ain’t for sissies.
Drove to the top of Mount Washington in late August about 28 years ago.
It was sunny and around 85 degrees at the base. Got to the top and it was 16 degrees with sleet. My Siberian Huskie was confused but she liked it. I could feel that the air seemed thinner, but it was tolerable.
Not a ride for the squeamish, but I was OK with it. I will take the cog rail next time.
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