Bartlett Mtn. fatality

[Waumbek]

Bartlett Mtn is a trail-less 2661' peak a bit west of the Kearsarge North trail near Intervale. (Bartlett Haystack is further west on 302.) This was a tough weekend. Sadly, this fellow did not make it: report.

 

[NH_Mtn_Hiker]

I spoke with one of the Rangers at Lincoln-Woods about this earlier today. I was told that the guy was known to have alzheimer's (even though he was only in his 50's) and they believe this played a significant role in his death. Still sad either way.

 

[Davehiker]

My sincerest condolences to the victims of this tragedy. I have a family member with Alzheimer's, and I can only imagine the terror that this comfusion sometimes brings.

At the risk of appearing insensitive, I've sometimes wondered about this area as I've driven by. I've considered hiking Bartlett Mtn. from the east. Topozone map It seems there have been trails there in the past. Old USGS map The old Lost Trails site showed several trails on old AMC maps, but it's only available in archived form now. I realize, of course, that that doesn't mean there's anything like a trail there now. Still, I've been tempted to turn west at the right angle turn on the Kearsage North Trail and follow the ridge.

Does anyone have any experience hiking in this area that they'd be willing to share?

 

[Fitz]

Slippery when wet..

Sad story, my condolences.

I spent some of my college days mapping the geology near Kearsarge North and the Moat Range. Kearsarge North and the Moats are big piles of volcanic rocks within ring dikes. Stream beds were good places to hike and see the exposed geology - perhaps explaining his route. Another issue that comes to mind is that the volcanic rocks were brutally slippery when wet. I fell very hard more than once.

 

[sierra]

To be honest I feel bad for the guy, when I hear about someone like himself having alzhiemers, really makes me feel very fortunate. Im saying one for him tonight for sure. RIP.

 

[RoySwkr]

Still, I've been tempted to turn west at the right angle turn on the Kearsage North Trail and follow the ridge.

I've done that, and didn't find the old trail. Woods not too bad.

But we also did Rickers Knoll, and found that the Shingle Pond Trail from the 15' map was still in use (more so than back side of Kearsarge) which made the loop easier.

 

[Nessmuk]

I spoke with one of the Rangers at Lincoln-Woods about this earlier today. I was told that the guy was known to have alzheimer's (even though he was only in his 50's) and they believe this played a significant role in his death. Still sad either way.

This is so unfortunately typical. I've been a searcher on several SAR incidents over the years, and alzheimer's is a common theme. The last 3 searches I was on ended sadly, with alzheimer's as a contributing cause. The scenario is too often the same... some guy who hiked familiar woods for his entire life, the family notices the advancing disease but can't tell the old coot he can no longer follow his lifestyle anymore, he wanders off into neverland and doesn't return.

 

[pilgrim]

Bartlett Mtn is a trail-less 2661' peak a bit west of the Kearsarge North trail near Intervale.

Bartlett Mountain is not trail-less, if you know where to look. There is a fine trail to the summit through Merriman State Forest that connects with the trail to Kearsarge North. There are spectacular views from several ledges, which, as Fitz states, can be "brutally slippery when wet" or icy. The trail is not on any current map, but you can find it at the Lost Trails website.

I have noticed that someone was maintaining the trail recently and I wonder if it was this guy? Bad, bad news, I feel a kinship with any of the very few users of this trail.