Maine hikers Missing in NH - Baldface Circle Area

From the Union Leader:

http://www.theunionleader.com/artic...rticleId=c51a6df9-9727-43d3-be5f-1bef658672a9

"By LORNA COLQUHOUN
New Hampshire Union Leader Correspondent
49 minutes ago
CHATHAM – Search teams are assembling at this hour in northwestern New Hampshire to look for two Maine women who did not return from a hike last night.

Fish and Game Col. Marty Garabedian said teams are assembling at the trailhead for Bald Face Mountain in Chatham, which is located on the Maine border in the White Mountain National Forest."

One hopes that our correspondent doesn't wander too far alone into "northwestern" New Hampshire . . .

There are also sections of "technical scrambles," gorges and stream crossings.


Gee, I did the Baldface hike last year and I didn't bother to bring any technical climbing gear.

Found

They've been found. No details to story.

They found them walking down a trail.

http://www.wmur.com/news/19449896/d...l=man_12pm&ts=T&tmi=man_12pm_1_11000105132009

Media Coverage thumbs down

Startin' to get a little ticked off with the media coverage on missing hikers. It never has been any good, but the volume of them these days...the same ignorant way they report it is getting old.

I can't imagine that the people who get lost really want to be on the news. Leave these people alone. Allright, my rant will def not related to be hiking if I go any further, so I'll quit while I'm only slightly behind.


grouseking

Off topic, but I use to have a bumper sticker that read: Not Fooled By The Media. I used it for a meeting with my Condo Association and cut off the "media" part...

I don't know what the official SAR / F&G policy is about notifying the media, so this is purely speculation, but I wonder if NH F&G or some other organization has stepped up notifying the media, perhaps in an effort to get more rescuee-s to pay for their rescues?

Tim

bikehikeskifish said:

I don't know what the official SAR / F&G policy is about notifying the media, so this is purely speculation, but I wonder if NH F&G or some other organization has stepped up notifying the media, perhaps in an effort to get more rescuee-s to pay for their rescues?

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The public controversy over who pays alone probably makes it "news" and thus worth publishing. And web publishing is cheaper than paper publishing.

Doug

Tim - there might be more attention paid when it is a slow news day and the media is looking for some excitement. When I get into trouble I'm going to plan it for a day when lots of more important things are going on.

The important thing is that the hikers are safe.

eruggles said:

Off topic, but I use to have a bumper sticker that read: Not Fooled By The Media. I used it for a meeting with my Condo Association and cut off the "media" part...

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Ha, I've seen that bumper sticker before. I should stop watching the news. They don't inform you about anything remotely important anways. And when they do, a type of jargon is used that the average person either doesnt care about, or isn't smart enough to comprehend it, so they change the station. But back to the hiker.

It is obiously a great thing that they were found, safe, and unhurt. I can't imagine what would go thru my mind if I ever got lost hiking. When I was 12, I got lost in the woods of Chester, NH and I panicked my way thru downed trees, water, and swampy areas until I came across a road. It felt like I was gone for 2 hours, but I was only "lost" for about 30 min, and the road I came across was the same exact road that I entered the woods from, maybe 1/2 mile where I entered. I'd like to think I'd be able to handle it differently now.

grouseking

Years ago I worked for a major international daily newspaper (just gone to weekly and online -- any guesses?) I was taught there that you should be able to get an accurate idea of the story by reading the first and last paragraphs (as in the Reader's Digest version) and then learn the details in the paragraphs in between. That was old-school journalism. From what I see, most reports in the media are rewrites from one major source.

Glad the two women are safe.

News from the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department May 13, 2009
Phone: (603) 271-3211
Email: [email protected]
11 Hazen Drive, Concord, N.H. 03301
For information and online licenses, visit http://www.wildlife.state.nh.us

* * * * * * *

CONTACT:
Lt. Robert Bryant: 603-271-3127
Jane Vachon: 603-271-3211
May 13, 2009


DROWNING VICTIM RECOVERED; LOST MAINE HIKERS ARE FOUND SAFE

CONCORD, N.H. -- Searchers recovered the body of 67-year-old drowning victim Richard Robinson Sr. of Stratford today (Wednesday, May 13, 2009) at about 12:50 p.m.*Robinson was found approximately 5 miles downstream from where he was last seen on the bank of the Connecticut River at about 11:00 a.m. Tuesday (May 12).*Two New Hampshire Fish and Game Conservation Officers aboard the Department's airboat found the body along the shoreline of an island in the river.*Robinson's family has been notified.*

The State Medical Examiner viewed the body at the scene and at his discretion may request an autopsy. The incident appears to be nonsuspicious in nature, according to N.H. Fish and Game Lt. Douglas Gralenski.*

A large-scale search for Robinson had been underway since Tuesday afternoon, with searchers combing the river and its banks for signs of Robinson. The effort involved personnel from N.H. Fish and Game, Vermont Fish and Game, N.H. State Police, the US Fish & Wildlife Service, Stratford Hollow Fire Department, Stratford Police, the Red Cross and New England K-9 Search and Rescue.

Gralenski reported that the northern stretches of the Connecticut River where the incident occurred are currently running at typical spring levels, a little high due to recent thunderstorms, but not at flood stage.*He credited the hydroelectric company TransCanada for lowering the river flow during the search to aid the recovery effort.*

In the White Mountains, the search for two Maine hikers successfully concluded this afternoon (Wednesday, May 13) as the two young women were walked to safety by rescuers.*The hikers were located just before noon on the Baldface Circle Trail near Eagle Crag.

Hannah Groom, age 21, of Cumberland, Maine, and Shannon Episcopo, age 21, of Portland, Maine, had left Portland, at 11:30 a.m. yesterday (May 12), heading to New Hampshire's White Mountains for a day hike.*They set out on the Baldface Circle Trail at about 2 p.m.*

The young women had told their parents only that they were going hiking in the White Mountains and were expecting to return home in time for a volleyball game yesterday evening.*Late last night when they had not returned, Groom's parents began investigating and discovered information on her computer indicating research on the Baldface Mountain area. Very early this morning, Groom's father, Rob Groom, and her brother went to the White Mountains to look for the women.*At about 5:30 this morning, they found the young hikers' car at the Baldface Trailhead on Route 113 in North Chatham.*New Hampshire Fish and Game was notified about 6:30 a.m. today (May 13, 2009) by N.H. State Police and a search commenced.*

Search teams focused on the Baldface Circle Trail,*a rugged 10-mile loop in the White Mountain National Forest.*Apparently, the women had missed an intersection and ended up on the Wild River Trail.*They had no trail map or overnight gear, but they encountered another hiker who helped them find shelter for the night at the Appalachian Mountain Club's Spruce Brook Campsite. They were carrying cell phones, but no signal is available in that area. This morning, the two women, accompanied by hiker Drew Inzer of North Bridgton, Maine, began hiking out together and were met by searchers on the Baldface Circle Trail a few miles from the trailhead.*The women are in good condition.*

"We're just thankful that the young women are safely out of this remote wilderness area.*It's such big country; it's very difficult to search," said N.H. Fish and Game Lt. James Goss.*"They were fortunate to meet an experienced and prepared hiker who was able to assist them out."*

N.H. Fish and Game Conservation Officers were assisted in the search by U.S. Forest Service personnel.*The Appalachian Mountain Club provided its Cold River Campsite as a command center.*A U.S. Army Air National Guard helicopter had been requested and was moments from taking off when news that the women had been located came in.*

"We've had a lot of rescue activity in recent days.*The weather is nice, and people want to get out and enjoy the great outdoors, but they need to be prepared when they go," said Goss.*"If you're heading for the mountains, keep in mind that winter conditions still prevail in some areas.*Please be responsible and take time to review the hikeSafe code before you head out for a wilderness adventure."*

No further information about these incidents is available at this time.

For information on being safe while hiking, visit http://www.hikesafe.com.

Just saw the media release as well. That "Drew Inzer" gotta be one of ours here, non?

kevinmac said:

They had no trail map or overnight gear, but they encountered another hiker who helped them find shelter for the night at the Appalachian Mountain Club's Spruce Brook Campsite.

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In another year, they would have been sleeping on the ground :-(

RoySwkr said:

In another year, they would have been sleeping on the ground :-(

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Good point. Raises the deja vu all over again. If you build trails (and thus invite the public in), should you not build a few shelters...

The answer me knows not.

A friend and I stopped a "young couple" in the rain from making that same mistake a few years ago. Some day I'm going to hike that trail on purpose, just to see it. So glad they are safe. Thanks, Drew!

If you build trails (and thus invite the public in), should you not build a few shelters...

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I would say no. There are plenty of trail systems out there that have very few or no shelters.