Two hikers rescued on New Hampshire trails; one likely to be billed

New Hampshire conservation officers and volunteers rescued a 39-year-old Rhode Island man from a trail early Friday morning, with officials saying the man will likely be billed for the effort.

The New Hampshire Fish and Game officers learned just before midnight on Thursday that a hiker was stuck on Garfield Ridge, according to a statement from the department. Snow and ice, as well as heavy wind and rain, made trekking the trail difficult.

Officers and volunteers started up the Skookumchuk Trail at 1:30 a.m. and reached the man over four miles later at 4:20 a.m., according to the statement. The man made it back to the trailhead with assistance by 9:35 a.m., with no injuries.

According to officials, he started his hike on Wednesday and spent that night on Falling Waters Trail. Intending to hike Franconia Ridge the next morning, he took a wrong turn and found himself on Garfield Ridge. He did not know his way back as he lacked a map. and could not set up shelter. Cold and wet, he called 911.

Heidi Murphy, a conservation officer involved in the rescue, said Fish and Game recommended the man be civilly fined for the rescue effort because he was underprepared and did not do research on the hike beforehand.

She said he did not have proper food, clothing, water, or extra gear to embark on the hike he planned to take. The rainy and icy conditions were also predicted well before he left for the hike, she added.

New Hampshire Fish and Game performs around 190 rescues each year, which include hike rescues and other events like drownings. Murphy said the number of people who are fined for these rescues is “very minimal.”

The next day, conservation officers rescued a 57-year-old Westwood, Massachusetts, man from the Kilkenny Ridge Trail in Berlin, New Hampshire, according to a statement. The man called 911 Saturday afternoon and reported he was wet and cold with no light source.

After several hours, he was reached shortly after 9 p.m. and found to be mildly hypothermic. The report did not specify if he would be billed, but mentioned he was an experienced climber of 25 years and was not aware of the snowy conditions in the White Mountains.