Maybe the Strangest Rescue Ever?

[Breeze]

That was my first thought when I read they drove to the top.
Any updates on the condition of the hiker?

the 23 year old hiker is in Elliot Hospital in Manchester NH.

He was ambulanced to Berlin (Androscoggin Valley Hospital) from the base of the Auto Road.

Core temperature ~ 90 degrees F at Androscoggin Valley Hospital in Berlin, he was helo'd outbound. Dartmouth-Hitchcock couldn't accept him because their ICU was full, thence diverted to Manchester.

Pupils fixed, dilated, and nonresponsive on exam by the EMT-A-WFR at first contact, 11:30 PM. Estimated duration of hypoxia x 2 hours.

EMT-A-WFR on scene opined that there could easily have been four fatalities out of that situation, survival of the most severely affected will be a huge financial and emotional burden to his family and friends.

Breeze

 

[TJ aka Teej]

Thank you Breeze. That's a real shame.

 

[Kevin Rooney]

I hiked Boott Spur and Washington on Friday, and spoke with AMC staff members at Pinkham and a NH staffer on the summit. Apparently the group left Pinkham around 2:30-2:45PM wearing mostly cotton clothing - it was raining and the conditions were worsening - and believed to be heading for Huntington's. The vehicle that was used was a vehicle the AMC keeps on the summit - the keys were in the ignition. After topping out on Huntington's one of them made it to the summit, and then drove the vehicle back down to pick up the rest of the group and they returned to the summit building where the van service has a souvenir shop. A window was broken (there's plywood on it as of Friday) and they used some of the clothing to replace their own and called 911.

 

[trailbiscuit]

FWIW, even if they had driven the car to the base of the Auto Road, they would have found the gate locked. I'm not sure what time of day it was, but if the summit shop was closed, it's unlikely that anyone would have been around at the base. So, it would have been better, but not a safe haven.

 

[DougPaul]

FWIW, even if they had driven the car to the base of the Auto Road, they would have found the gate locked. I'm not sure what time of day it was, but if the summit shop was closed, it's unlikely that anyone would have been around at the base. So, it would have been better, but not a safe haven.

Chancy either way--they might have been able to flag a car on Rte 16, Pinkham isn't that far away, or they might have been able to get around the gate. Agreed, the base of the auto road is generally a better place to wait for help than the summit and much easier for the rescue folks.

It is very easy to logically analyze a scenario after-the-fact (particularly when one has only partial info...). If the analyist is in the same situation himself, he might see things differently than when sitting in front of a computer terminal in a nice warm room.

Doug

 

[Kevin Rooney]

I'm not sure what time of day it was, but if the summit shop was closed, it's unlikely that anyone would have been around at the base. So, it would have been better, but not a safe haven.

Best estimate is they left Pinkham Notch about 2:45PM, so even experienced climbers would have been 3-5 hours enroute via Huntington in good weather. Reports are that it was raining, windy, and turning colder. The NH State Parks website says "The operation schedule of the Sherman Adams Building in the park is 8am - 8pm from early May to early October (weather permitting)."

It clearly would have been stretch to have made the Sherman Adams building by 8PM, even assuming it remained opened that evening till 8.

As for the top versus the bottom - one of the factors here was dry clothing. By happenstance, the building they gained entrance to had clothing for sale. I don't know whether there's a similar giftshop at the bottom. This is pure speculation on my part, but the dry clothing was probably secondary to a search for warm, dry shelter.

 

[DougPaul]

As for the top versus the bottom - one of the factors here was dry clothing. By happenstance, the building they gained entrance to had clothing for sale. I don't know whether there's a similar giftshop at the bottom. This is pure speculation on my part, but the dry clothing was probably secondary to a search for warm, dry shelter.

The car would hopefully have had a functioning heater.

But once they had broken into the building, using the dry clothing was a good move.

Don't think there is a giftshop at the bottom.

Doug

 

[Peaks]

The car would hopefully have had a functioning heater.

But once they had broken into the building, using the dry clothing was a good move.

Don't think there is a giftshop at the bottom.

Doug

Gift shop at the bottom is across Route 16. (where you park for the coach)

 

[DougPaul]

Gift shop at the bottom is across Route 16. (where you park for the coach)

OK--thanks. (Never taken the stage.)

A little harder to justify breaking into this one than the one at the top...

Doug

 

[Breeze]

Using dry clothing was certainly a good move for survival of the upright members of the group.

Between the clothing contaminated with various and all bodily secretion stains ( they piled retail clothing stock on the floor to make a bed for the unconscious victim, who was vacating uncontrollably), the clothing contaminated with glass shards from the broken windows, and the clothing used by the upright, a lot of merchandise was consumed.

Sorry if that is TMI.

Back to "their Hiking plan".... did they have one? think it important?

With all due respect to bereft families and friends, Should there ever be another edition of Not Without Peril, this episode deserves a chapter.

Investigation is on-going.

Breeze

 

[DougPaul]

Using dry clothing was certainly a good move for survival of the upright members of the group.

Between the clothing contaminated with various and all bodily secretion stains ( they piled retail clothing stock on the floor to make a bed for the unconscious victim, who was vacating uncontrollably), the clothing contaminated with glass shards from the broken windows, and the clothing used by the upright, a lot of merchandise was consumed.

Certain actions become justifiable in life-threatening emergencies.

For instance, the FCC allows one to use any radio transmitter (even those for which one is not licensed) to obtain help in life threatening emergencies.

Doug

 

[Dr. Dasypodidae]

Most likely the car stolen at the summit had the keys in it. Leaving the keys in an unattended vehicle in New Hampshire is illegal. If this is the case, had those hikers been involved in an accident, the owner of the car could have been held responsible for their injuries and the damage they caused. So don't leave your keys in your car! ...even on Mt. Washington.

Interesting, as I for one did not know about this NH law. But, what if someone "hides" a key behind a rear or front wheel, let's say in the Colorado Rockies during the dead of winter? Then, what if another person who will remain nameless "borrowed" that car by finding such a key to save another companion's life? Then, what if the car borrower soon thereafter returned the car, leaving some cash on the front floor to more than cover gas used, along with a note expressing one's gratitude to the car's owner? Still grand theft auto, I suppose. But, at least one could think about the life saved during all those years in the slammer.

 

[Kevin Rooney]

Interesting, as I for one did not know about this NH law. But, what if someone "hides" a key behind a rear or front wheel, let's say in the Colorado Rockies during the dead of winter? Then, what if another person who will remain nameless "borrowed" that car by finding such a key to save another companion's life? Then, what if the car borrower soon thereafter returned the car, leaving some cash on the front floor to more than cover gas used, along with a note expressing one's gratitude to the car's owner? Still grand theft auto, I suppose. But, at least one could think about the life saved during all those years in the slammer.

In real life though, Thom - if you were on the jury - would you vote to convict the 'thief/borrower'? Frankly, I would be hard-pressed to do so under the circumstances.

As for the stage company - IMHO it would not be a smart PR move to prosecute. What are a few t-shirts or a window when you're trying to save a friend's life? When all is said and done - even if this sad incident is determined to be of their own doing - there are situations which don't fit into the boxes. This may be one of them.

 

[TomD]

defenses

Under no circumstances should anyone take this as legal advice, but there is a common law defense of necessity, which could be used in a case such as this one. How well it would work in this case would be speculation on my part, and I'm not going to do that.

Here is a brief explanation from Wikipedia, which itself should never be relied on for the definitive answer on anything. The article will give you a general idea of how necessity is applied to criminal cases.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Necessity

 

[Mad Townie]

All that being said, it sure will be nice if the people involved offer to pay for any damage they caused.

 

[Tom Rankin]

All that being said, it sure will be nice if the people involved offer to pay for any damage they caused.

Common sense:

You make a mess, you clean it up.

Laurie's father was a fire tower observer for many years. One day he arrived at the cabin to see that the lock had been broken off. Inside he found a note from a man who said he was caught in a fierce lightning storm and feared for his life. He broke in to find shelter. He left his name, address, and phone #, and what turned out to be more than enough money to pay for his vandalism.

 

[dug]

Common sense:

You make a mess, you clean it up.

Laurie's father was a fire tower observer for many years. One day he arrived at the cabin to see that the lock had been broken off. Inside he found a note from a man who said he was caught in a fierce lightning storm and feared for his life. He broke in to find shelter. He left his name, address, and phone #, and what turned out to be more than enough money to pay for his vandalism.

That's what I'm talking about!!!!!

 

[giggy]

I agree that they should be somehow made to pay for the damages. They acted recklessely, they took a chance, and they got bit in the arse. They should be held accountable. Not saying criminally, but just pay for the damages. They did what they had to do, but now its time to pay for what they did - nothing is free.

Sounds to me like blatant lack of respect for the peak - the late start and kevin has good info on that, the lack of proper clothing/gear and the fact that they went up the toughest trail to the summit. Sounds to me like they did enough research to do the "toughest trail" - if not, they likely would have went up tuckerman ravine. You have to do some research to know about huntington ravine trail.

Something tells me too that they likely had ample warning at pinkham notch. That weather didn't appear out of nowhere.


nothing againts them personally, and I hope all is well healthwise, hate to see avarage tax payer pick up the bill for this one.

time to pay the piper................

 

[dvbl]

Any reporters out there?

Has anyone (any newspaper reporters on this site?) ever thought to interview a member of this hiking party. Potential benefits would be:
1) find out what really happened
2) end all speculation
3) learn about their thought process...why they did what they did when things started turning bad
4) provide a good lesson/refresher on hypothermia, clothing, start/turn-around times, weather in the Whites, decision-making under stress, etc.

 

[Mike P.]

Hopefully the injured hiker recovers, sad events that better planning would have likely prevented.

A rainy/icy climb up Huntington;s & 2:45 start when it's dark at 7:00 without overnight gear or proper clothing. What was the plan? There was a goal, was there a plan other than reaching the goal?

I enjoy a late afternoon hike as much as the next guy, often solo even, (last Thursday in Catskills & this Friday somewhere in the Whites) but, IMO this trip, this destination should not have taken place in that weather or they should have turned back at the base of the headwall.

Assuming the road was icy if the trail was, I don't think I would have wanted to drive any further down the road then necessary in somebody elses car. It would have been worse had they crashed the car after stealing it (or borrowing it). From the area where they were, the road up is pretty easy.

I'm sure they will get a bill for the clothing & the window if they have not already volunteered to pay for them. Suspect they will donate (be asked to donate) to the SAR before the bill gets sent.

I would have never thought to look & see if I could borrow/steal a car up there in order to bring a distressed hiker to safety, that was lucky (I'm not sure I want to say smart) thinking that worked in this case. (Hopefully hikers looking at borrowing cars does not become a more common occurrence like knocking on the weather station door) but if I thought that my friend needed shelter immediately I probably would have thought about breaking into a building, if I was close to one.

Obviously before & afterwards & from here it's easy to say, avoid situations where you need shelter immediately. Will await to see more facts here of from the NH Fish & Game, assume they still maintain their site with rescue info on it.