Off Trail Fatal on Kinsman
- Thread starter NHChris
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David Metsky
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Sadly, he was a friend of my skiing group, close friends with a few of them.
Do you have a link to this?
Click on “guy” above Kevin.
Thx.
Sorry for your loss.
Tom_Murphy
Member
As a solo winter hiker, I have often thought that a helmet might be a good addition since SARDOG1 suggested it here years again. Helmets are now common place for skiers, they might become more common place for winter hikers.
Was he on or off trail when the accident happened?
The article stated he was in the Coppermine Brook Drainage which is where The Coppermine Trail lies. If he was not on the trail I would suspect he was not too far from it as he was found promptly. Sounds like he might have been underpowered with micro spikes. NE side of the mountain. That coupled with being a drainage the potential for water ice may have existed.
sierra
Well-known member
That was my impression as well, as the SAR team reported him in "microspikes". One of the primary reasons I switched to Hillshounds and K10's was that as a soloist, falling is to be avoided at all costs. Either way it's tough, just out there trying to enjoy himself.
DayTrip
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When I started Winter hiking and researching gear (in the 2012-2013ish neighborhood) I got the impression that a helmet was pretty standard equipment for Winter hiking, After a really icy descent on the Avalon Trail early in my Winter "career" I went ahead and bought a helmet, acknowledging the "obvious" need for one. But as my Winter hikes continued I never saw anyone wearing a helmet and after never actually wearing mine I stopped carrying it. It still seems obvious to me that if you're walking on a slippery surface where the potential for a fall and a slide is significant you should have protection. But I never wear a helmet. Hubris. Fear of ridicule. Stupidity. I don't know.
Besides being an avid hiker and skier, Chris was an avid mountain biker and trail builder. He was responsible for many of the trails in Musquash in Londonderry before moving north a few years ago. I did not know him well, but many of my hiking, skiing, and mountain biking friends did.
RIP and condolences to his wife and family.
Tim
RIP and condolences to his wife and family.
Tim
ImYourHuckleberry
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After speaking with a friend, we were assuming he was up on or near the icy slab that is above the Coppermine trail between where the trail ends and the Kinsman Ridge. There is a slab up there that gets snowed over on good years and has been skied many times, and the woods above/below also get skied. We just kind of assumed he was scouting that area. My guess is that since it was snowing at the time, rescuers were able to follow his tracks until they found him. Also, I suspect that many of the rescuers would be familiar with the area as it's fairly well known in local circles for backcountry skiing. (Not sure if it's in bad taste to kind of guess. If anybody thinks so please let me know and I will delete.)
My condolences to his family and friends. Thanks to the SAR teams and F&G for all they do.
Here's the NH F&G facebook post:
https://www.facebook.com/share/p/19rgVyYMW7/
Press Release
NH Fish and Game Law Enforcement Division and Operation Game Thief
Saturday, November 23 at 5:40pm
Littleton New Hampshire Man Recovered from Kinsman Ridge
Lincoln—On Friday evening November 22nd at 6:30 PM NH Fish and Game Conservation Officers were made aware of an overdue hiker from the Coppermine Trail area in Franconia. The hiker had departed earlier in the day and had planned a hike to the area of the middle Cannon Ball up thru the Coppermine Brook valley to check conditions of a ski glade prior to the winter skiing season. At around 4:00 PM the man communicated to his wife that he was okay and on his way back out. When the man did not return home in a reasonable time frame she called for assistance. Franconia Police located the hiker’s vehicle at the Coppermine Road off Route 116 in Franconia. Conservation Officers from New Hampshire Fish and Game also responded to the trailhead.
Having a rough idea of the intended route Conservation Officers started up the trail a little after 9:00 PM. The area needing to be searched was primarily off trail and required bushwhacking thru thick vegetation while wintery conditions were present. Just prior to 1 AM, while ascending the edges of a steep iced over slide the body of the missing man was located at around 2800 feet in elevation. More Conservation Officers and volunteers from Pemi Valley Search and Rescue Team were called in to assist with the recovery effort. In all twenty two rescuers took part in the rescue.
By 5:30 AM additional rescuers had reached the scene and were able to start the 3.2 mile carryout to Coppermine Road. The rescue party reached the trailhead just prior to 9 AM and were met by the assistant Medical Examiner. It was apparent the man had suffered a significant fall in icy terrain. He was wearing micro spikes and was well equipped with equipment for a hike. An autopsy is planned.
The hiker is identified as 44 year old Christopher Huyler of Littleton New Hampshire. Christopher is an avid outdoor enthusiast who enjoyed New Hampshire’s White Mountains in all seasons
Winter conditions have arrive in the mountains and hikers are encouraged to be prepared for their trek to include packing the ten essential items; map, compass, warm clothing, extra food and water, headlamp, fire starter, first aid kit, whistle, rain/wind jackets & pants, and a knife. For additional information, please visit www.hikesafe.com
Here's the NH F&G facebook post:
https://www.facebook.com/share/p/19rgVyYMW7/
Press Release
NH Fish and Game Law Enforcement Division and Operation Game Thief
Saturday, November 23 at 5:40pm
Littleton New Hampshire Man Recovered from Kinsman Ridge
Lincoln—On Friday evening November 22nd at 6:30 PM NH Fish and Game Conservation Officers were made aware of an overdue hiker from the Coppermine Trail area in Franconia. The hiker had departed earlier in the day and had planned a hike to the area of the middle Cannon Ball up thru the Coppermine Brook valley to check conditions of a ski glade prior to the winter skiing season. At around 4:00 PM the man communicated to his wife that he was okay and on his way back out. When the man did not return home in a reasonable time frame she called for assistance. Franconia Police located the hiker’s vehicle at the Coppermine Road off Route 116 in Franconia. Conservation Officers from New Hampshire Fish and Game also responded to the trailhead.
Having a rough idea of the intended route Conservation Officers started up the trail a little after 9:00 PM. The area needing to be searched was primarily off trail and required bushwhacking thru thick vegetation while wintery conditions were present. Just prior to 1 AM, while ascending the edges of a steep iced over slide the body of the missing man was located at around 2800 feet in elevation. More Conservation Officers and volunteers from Pemi Valley Search and Rescue Team were called in to assist with the recovery effort. In all twenty two rescuers took part in the rescue.
By 5:30 AM additional rescuers had reached the scene and were able to start the 3.2 mile carryout to Coppermine Road. The rescue party reached the trailhead just prior to 9 AM and were met by the assistant Medical Examiner. It was apparent the man had suffered a significant fall in icy terrain. He was wearing micro spikes and was well equipped with equipment for a hike. An autopsy is planned.
The hiker is identified as 44 year old Christopher Huyler of Littleton New Hampshire. Christopher is an avid outdoor enthusiast who enjoyed New Hampshire’s White Mountains in all seasons
Winter conditions have arrive in the mountains and hikers are encouraged to be prepared for their trek to include packing the ten essential items; map, compass, warm clothing, extra food and water, headlamp, fire starter, first aid kit, whistle, rain/wind jackets & pants, and a knife. For additional information, please visit www.hikesafe.com
I think the F&G press release confirms your thoughts.
If you wish to view the terrain during winter conditions, google Steve Smith’s Mountain Wanderer blog for Coppermine Brook slide, March 13, 2023, the day that he visited. Steve encountered three b/c skiers dropping the steep, snow-plastered ledges, and as usual his blog post is loaded with lots of photos. The first 2.5 miles from the trailhead is reasonably low gradient to the Lean-to at about 2100 ft elevation. Bridal Veil Falls at about 2200 ft elevation is a popular day hike. The terrain, slide, and ledges above are much steeper.
When I was skiing lift-served at Cannon in the late 1960s and early 1970s, once we had driver’s licenses we would draw straws to see who would drive around to Rte 116 west of Cannon at the end of the day to pick up the rest of us who would drop Tucker Brook ski trail from below the bedrock bump (once known as Mittersill Mountain) beyond the base of Taft Ski Trail on our downhill skis.
Tucker Brook ski trail lies one drainage north of Coppermine Trail, is still maintained for b/c skiing by locals, and still has the infamous 13 Turns that drop about 600 ft at an average grade of about 28 degrees to about 2800 ft where the trail becomes gentler. If you google Sean Brown - Tucker Brook ski trail you should find his nicely done 5-min video of his ski ascent on skins and his descent.
Although I have not been there, from Steve’s photos I think that b/c skiing the upper reaches of the Coppermine Brook drainage is likely much more challenging than is the Tucker Brook ski trail.
R.I.P., Christopher Huyler, and my condolences to his family and friends.
When I was skiing lift-served at Cannon in the late 1960s and early 1970s, once we had driver’s licenses we would draw straws to see who would drive around to Rte 116 west of Cannon at the end of the day to pick up the rest of us who would drop Tucker Brook ski trail from below the bedrock bump (once known as Mittersill Mountain) beyond the base of Taft Ski Trail on our downhill skis.
Tucker Brook ski trail lies one drainage north of Coppermine Trail, is still maintained for b/c skiing by locals, and still has the infamous 13 Turns that drop about 600 ft at an average grade of about 28 degrees to about 2800 ft where the trail becomes gentler. If you google Sean Brown - Tucker Brook ski trail you should find his nicely done 5-min video of his ski ascent on skins and his descent.
Although I have not been there, from Steve’s photos I think that b/c skiing the upper reaches of the Coppermine Brook drainage is likely much more challenging than is the Tucker Brook ski trail.
R.I.P., Christopher Huyler, and my condolences to his family and friends.
Thanks Dr. Steve’s site is a great resource for off trail ramblers.
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