Peak Experiences: Danger, Death, and Daring in the Mountains of the Northeast

Nature Is Unforgiving: Case Studies

Peter Crane Nature Is Unforgiving Case Studies Hikers in the Granite State have been exposed to a new motto that’s simple and to the point: hikeSafe. The hikeSafe program is the first of its kind in the country and its keystone is the Hiker Responsibility Code, which distills much knowledge into critical advice to foster responsible hiker behavior. Jointly established by the White Mountain National Forest and the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department, hikeSafe was developed by people with experience in the backcountry, including those with search and rescue experience, to make mishaps less likely and help ensure enjoyable trips. The Hiker Responsibility Code provides core principles based on one vital fact: You are responsible for yourself. Be prepared with knowledge and gear. Become self-reliant by learning about the terrain, conditions, local weather, and your equipment before you start. A man from Boston visited the White Mountains in the autumn of 1855, having read about the spectacular mountains, but he knew little of the terrain and came unprepared for wintry conditions. He barely survived two nights above tree line, sheltered by his overcoat and umbrella. He was aware that only a month earlier, a young woman from Maine had died on the upper slopes of the mountain—part of a party similarly ignorant of the mountain’s fierce potential, and ill-equipped for an unsheltered night out. Leave your plans with responsible persons. Tell someone where you are going, what trails you will be hiking, when you will return, and your emergency plans. The message should be: “If I am not home by “X” o’clock, come looking for me here.” This is both a safeguard for the hiker and a critical courtesy for those who respond when someone does not return home as scheduled. Case in point: in June 2009, a lone man hiked up Mount Washington in typically poor weather—breezy, cold, foggy, and wet. No one knew of his specific plans, and so no alarm was raised when he failed to return to Pinkham Notch later that day. A week passed before his sister, accustomed to regular communication with him, alerted authorities that something must have gone wrong. With no knowledge of his intended 4 pe a k e x pe r i e n ces route, a wide net was cast to look for him; his remains were not found until July 6. With the details of this hiker’s final hours unknown, one can only speculate on the possibilities for rescue. But if someone had known his plans and his expected return time, a more focused search might have resulted in a happier ending. Stay together. If you start a hike as a group, then continue hiking as a group and end as a group, adjusting your pace to the slowest person. Should problems arise, it can be important to have access to all of the group’s equipment and knowledge. In addition, splitting up a group can lead to miscommunication or worse. Case in point: on December 29, 1997, a group of three hikers were climbing on the west slope of Mount Washington . Although fog and blowing snow should have encouraged them to stick very close together, the front and rear hikers were surprised to notice that their companion was no longer between them. Circumstances delayed a definitive search for the missing hiker until December 31, when he was finally located by two searchers. In the ensuing rescue operation, both of those searchers were injured. The entire incident could have been avoided—with much happier results for all—if the hikers had recognized the singular importance of staying together in such conditions. Be prepared to turn back. If you’ve been anticipating a hiking trip for weeks, it can be difficult to squelch your plans even in the face of cold, wind, and fog. The mountains will still be there another day but, if circumstances turn adverse, you might not be. Thrilling accounts of desperate mountaineering feats might fuel one’s enthusiasm to struggle to the top, but remember that only the survivors write about their escapes—the victims’ stories often go untold. Know your limitations, realize that unexpected weather conditions and your own fatigue will affect your hike, and you will be better able to decide when to postpone it. Case in point: J.O. and a friend attempted a traverse of the Franconia Ridge in February 2008. The forecast called for severe weather, with cold winds, snow, and limited...