New Hampshire Fish and Game rescued two groups of hikers from Mount Lafayette on Friday night, June 21, after they were caught unprepared for cold conditions.
Police received a call around 8:00 p.m. about two 19-year-old hikers from New Jersey who were 0.15 miles from the summit and suffering from hypothermia. They had no warm clothing and could not see. One hiker was unresponsive by the time rescuers arrived. Crews treated them and brought them to a warming hut by about 2:55 a.m. Both reached the trailhead at 7:55 a.m.
During the rescue, a volunteer rescuer was severely injured while carrying the unresponsive individual. That volunteer was also helped back to the trailhead.
While assisting the first group, another call came in about a separate group of hikers about 1.1 miles from the trailhead who were also hypothermic. Rescuers provided lights and dry clothing and helped them back to the trailhead.
New Hampshire Fish and Game reminded hikers to prepare for changing weather and pack essential gear.
Originally reported by MyChamplainValley.
Photo: User:Paulbalegend (Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0). Photo is illustrative and not from the scene.
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