FRANCONIA, N.H. — A Buxton, Maine, climber is OK after being rescued in New Hampshire’s mountains. But 24-year-old Evan Embrey says he’s done with the White Mountains for now.
The Maine Sunday Telegram says Embrey was rescued Friday by New Hampshire guides near the summit of Mount Lafayette, where Embrey had broken a snowshoe and high winds forced him off a trail into chest-high snow.
Embrey set out late Friday morning from a Franconia parking lot. He had plenty of gear and the weather at first was good. By early afternoon, after he crossed the 5,249-foot summit, the wind picked up, gusting to about 60 mph.
The wind knocked him off his feet and Embrey moved below the tree line to find shelter. Instead, he found chest-high snow and, without his snowshoes, he couldn’t get through it.
Information from: Portland Press Herald, http://www.pressherald.com
Back country trekkers really should pay a small fee for a permit. This money could be aggregated and used to pay for these types of rescues.
At most hiking spots people are asked to sign in and sign out so authorities know they are there and also have left safely. I think the theory is that if these folks are charged a fee they may not pay and may not sign in or out resulting in an even more dangerous situation.
New Search and Rescue Rules Could Be Costly for Reckless Hikers
December 29, 1999
CONCORD, N.H. —
Hikers who aren’t prepared for the extremes of New Hampshire’s terrain and weather may want to reevaluate their plans for outdoor adventures.
The New Hampshire Fish and Game Department announced today that hikers who recklessly cause themselves to become lost or injured — resulting in costly and dangerous rescues — may be billed for those rescue services. The new protocol has an educational element that includes signs and handouts advising hikers to be prepared when hiking in the back country, with the objective of reducing the number of rescues.
Searches and rescues in New Hampshire are funded mainly by a $1 fee on off-highway recreational vehicles and boat registrations.
Source – http://www.wildlife.state.nh.us/Newsroom/News_2001_and_previous/news_search_and_rescue_99.htm
Link to NH Law – http://www.gencourt.state.nh.us/rsa/html/xii/153-a/153-a-24.htm
I have to disagree some on this. I mean i’m not saying it’s right for someone to be out hiking alone in those conditions, but rescue’s are part of the job. If we had to pay a fee and have a permit we’d also have to do that for fire fighters, paramedics and police officers because they often have to go out on the line and in dangerous situations to save someones life.
Maine man survived
Mass man could have died
NH man could not have tried
VT man could not take a side
CT man could have wept and cried
RI man could have also died
Moral of the story: is don’t loose your cellphone in a snowbank.
Why was he out there alone??? Pure stupid!!! Woods, water, snow, never go alone!!!
Garbo: “I want to be alone!” Or Edward Abby. Take your pick.
me too……. avalanche beacon and some good gear and know your surroundings.and get a pair of good snowshoes” MSR “tell friends the route your taking and area you will be in and when you will be back . you can go by your self if you know what your doing… to many kids..”mostly college kids” now a days want to do all of this cool back country stuff with there new Go Pro HD cameras and iphone4… but either you didnt grow up doing it or have no training .. i see it all the time. youtube and Google cant save you when you are on a snow covered notch at 4000 ft..
I’ve been up there in winter, with a friend, and it isn’t a place for the inexperienced. One bad decision and that’s all there is to it. The ridge trail along the crest is incredibly windy and with very steep drop off on both sides. Impressive, but very dangerous.