After receiving a name a few trio of struggling hikers on Mt. Monadnock, rescuers discovered two individuals who had fallen right into a brook—certainly one of them intoxicated—and one who was attempting to assist.
Mount Monadnock (Picture: Hixi by way of Getty)
Up to date December 22, 2025 04:30PM
On December 19, New Hampshire Fish and Recreation obtained a name about three hikers who have been in misery on the Ferry Spring Path of Mount Monadnock. Upon reaching the hikers, rescuers realized that two 18-year-olds had fallen right into a brook, one of many two was intoxicated, and the third hiker was trying to assist the stricken hikers to security.
Situated close to the city of Jaffrey, Mount Mondnack is a solitary 3,166-foot peak that’s identified for its rugged nature. The reasonably difficult route on which the hikers have been discovered climbs 274 ft in simply lower than a mile.
Sergeant Kevin Bronson of New Hampshire Fish and Recreation responded to the incident. He informed Backpacker that one of many hikers was charged with the underage possession of alcohol. Neither hiker carried meals, water, heat garments, or winter mountaineering gear. The duo additionally began their trek after dusk.
Luckily for the hikers, one member of the Fish and Recreation’s Superior Search and Rescue staff occurred to be situated proper under Mount Mondnack when the decision got here in. “His response time was uncharacteristically fast,” stated Bronson.
The rescuer was additionally skilled in bringing hikers out of hypothermic circumstances, which helped him make sure that the hikers’ circumstances didn’t worsen earlier than they may attain assist. In the end, rescuers have been capable of heat the hypothermic hiker sufficient to be taken to an ambulance about 4 hours after calling for assist.
Now rescuers are making the advice that the hikers ought to be billed for his or her rescue attributable to their negligence. In the end, it’s the Lawyer Common’s workplace that decides whether or not or not the hikers might be billed.
Whereas New Hampshire is infamous for sticking hikers it deems negligent with the invoice for his or her rescue—the one state to frequently achieve this—the southern half doesn’t see as many critical incidents because the north. “It’s very uncommon that we really make a advice for billing,” stated Bronson. But the alternatives that the duo made main as much as the rescue have some rescuers feeling as if the hikers ought to be held accountable for the decision.
The area not too long ago skilled a good quantity of rain, swelling the creek that the hikers had tried to cross. One of many two turned saturated from “head to toe,” in accordance with Bronson, and finally hypothermic. The mountain was additionally experiencing excessive winds on the time.
Bronson warns that, though it’s a ravishing time to hike in southern New Hampshire, those that want to recreate within the backcountry ought to be sure they’re ready earlier than leaving residence.
“The large factor proper now’s we actually need everyone to undergo the hike SAFE program on-line, undergo the ten necessities,” stated Bronson. “Verify the climate,” he added.
