Massachusetts hiker dies near Mt. Washington after rescue in snow, 80 mph wind gusts

[sl8]

https://www.masslive.com/news/2022/06/massachusetts-hiker-dies-near-mt-washington-after-rescue-in-snow-80-mph-wind-gusts.html

Massachusetts hiker dies near Mt. Washington after rescue in snow, 80 mph wind gusts

Published: Jun. 20, 2022, 9:43 a.m.
By The Associated Press | MassLive

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.

[...]

[3Hotdogs]

1. The mountain is subject to sudden weather change. If clouds come in, go back down the trail.

I recall reading that there are hikers whose remains have never been found.

[Enter stage left]

2. Sorry...rescue really tried.

For rescue teams everywhere...

[RockRaven]

3. IIRC, MT Washington is notoriously deadly due to ridiculous wind chill, even in the summer.

Hurricane force winds on the regular, plus precip. Highest wind speeds in the US/North America. Three-digit known deaths in the last century-plus.

[spike jones]

4. I call that death by cell phone where someone gets into trouble, makes a call for rescue then

sits down and dies while waiting. If you are out alone like that and not lost, make the call, tell them which way you are going but you need to always, always make the effort to get yourself out. Or else just stay out of the mountains.