Over 20 Hikers Rescued on Mount Washington

More than 20 hikers were rescued from Mount Washington over the weekend after becoming stranded in early winter conditions near the 6,288-foot summit; many were inexperienced, wearing non-waterproof layers or sneakers, and showed early signs of hypothermia before being evacuated by the Mount Washington Cog Railway and warmed in heated locomotive cabs. Officials said those Cog Railway evacuees did not require hospitalization. Separately, 20-year-old Rhode Island hiker Owen Strommer was rescued near the summit of Tuckerman Ravine after his headlamp and phone began losing power; responders guided him to safety using vehicle lights and trail cairns and then drove him to the base for evaluation. Another rescue on the Old Bridle Path involved a Massachusetts hiker with a leg injury and required more than 20 rescuers to reach and evacuate the injured person as higher-elevation snow made trails slippery. State and park officials warned that summit services and shelters are closed for the season, said winter conditions have already arrived on New Hampshire’s high peaks, urged hikers to carry proper winter gear and backups, and noted that people judged to have entered the backcountry unprepared may face fines.