Men on training hike in whiteout conditions send SOS from mountain, NH rescuers say
Three men were on a training hike when they got caught in whiteout conditions and had to send an SOS message, New Hampshire rescuers said.
Rescuers got the message from the men’s satellite device at 5:30 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 9, from the Mount Lincoln area, the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department Law Enforcement Division said in a Facebook post.
The hikers reported having cold-related injuries and needed help in the snowy conditions, rescuers said.
They had set out on their hike at about 9 a.m. that day and had “ascended Falling Waters Trail to Franconia Ridge.”
But deep snow and whiteout conditions made it difficult for them to follow the trail, rescuers said.
The hikers made it over Mount Lincoln, then they “panicked” and sent an SOS message, officials said. added quote marks
“The group was fairly well prepared for winter conditions but lacked experience above treeline,” rescuers said.
Rescuers set out to find them and reached them at about 9:10 p.m.
The men were given some light sources, and they made it back to the trailhead after 10 p.m.
