I disagree that the trailhead elevation/accessibility has much if anything to do with recent SAR matters. First I doubt anyone would link this week's mishap with trailhead access. The poor guy tripped near the summit. Equating that to 'easy' access is a stretch at best. Also, does anyone think more people climb Jefferson vs Washington? I thought Jefferson is usually considered the least accessible of the presidentials? If someone bothers to figure out the vertical rise of a climb and 'venture' off-pavement to the Caps trailhead, that, in my mind, puts them beyond the casual drive-by 'let's take a hike' sort of person.
Resuce - hiker flown off Mount Jefferson
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I am sure was a recent newspaper article describing an adventurous hike up Jefferson that now has everyone running there
Fisher Cat said:
I am sure was a recent newspaper article describing an adventurous hike up Jefferson that now has everyone running there
DougG said:
Just a hypothesis...obviously the people cited in this article were prepared. I've only hiked Jackson/Pierce/Eisenhower/Monroe/Jefferson on that range and based upon what I saw, it seemed there more people in over their heads on the Caps Ridge trail than I saw on Jackson/Crawford/Edmands. Again, just a hypothesis based upon my limited observations. For someone who doesn't know much about hiking, a 5ish mile RT hike to a 5,000 footer might seem more attractive on paper than a 8-9ish mile RT hike with roughly the same vertical to a 4,000 footer (there are plenty of people out there who don't know what vertical ascent/vertical drop (the latter used in alpine skiing) really are.
griffin
Active member
rocket21 said:
fwiw (and I'm not saying this has any bearing on how many accidents there have been on Jeff this year), I can vouch for this. I had a conversation with someone this spring who was planning to do Caps Ridge up Jefferson, despite a perpetually injured ankle and a history of trouble with rocks. When I suggested Caps Ridge might not be the best trail choice, they pointed to the distance as their reason for thinking it would be "easy enough."
Fisher Cat
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Found another article from NH Fish & Game. not much new.Injured Hiker Rescued from Mount Jefferson
CONCORD, N.H. - An injured hiker was airlifted off Mount Jefferson in New Hampshire's White Mountains this morning (Tuesday, August 28, 2007). Quentas Chess, age 53, of Mamaroneck, NY, had been hiking with three companions on the Jefferson Loop Trail when he was injured after tripping and falling face-first onto a rocky area.
The injury occurred at approximately 4 p.m. yesterday (August 27, 2007). The injured man's hiking party included his brother, a doctor, who was able to stabilize his condition and secure him in a tent while they attempted to call for help. At about 7 p.m. they notified the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department via cell phone that their injured companion was unable to walk down the mountain.
Rescuers set off at daylight today (August 28, 2007) to locate the hiking party. A team of two N.H. Fish and Game Conservation Officers - paramedic Brad Morse and first-responder Mark Ober - along with Mike Pelchat of the Androscoggin Valley Search and Rescue team and N.H. State Parks, hiked out from the summit of Mount Washington. An Army National Guard helicopter was called in to assist with the evacuation.
At approximately 8:30 a.m., Chess was airlifted off the mountain by the Army National Guard helicopter. He was then transported by ambulance to Concord Hospital.
No further information is available at this time.
CONCORD, N.H. - An injured hiker was airlifted off Mount Jefferson in New Hampshire's White Mountains this morning (Tuesday, August 28, 2007). Quentas Chess, age 53, of Mamaroneck, NY, had been hiking with three companions on the Jefferson Loop Trail when he was injured after tripping and falling face-first onto a rocky area.
The injury occurred at approximately 4 p.m. yesterday (August 27, 2007). The injured man's hiking party included his brother, a doctor, who was able to stabilize his condition and secure him in a tent while they attempted to call for help. At about 7 p.m. they notified the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department via cell phone that their injured companion was unable to walk down the mountain.
Rescuers set off at daylight today (August 28, 2007) to locate the hiking party. A team of two N.H. Fish and Game Conservation Officers - paramedic Brad Morse and first-responder Mark Ober - along with Mike Pelchat of the Androscoggin Valley Search and Rescue team and N.H. State Parks, hiked out from the summit of Mount Washington. An Army National Guard helicopter was called in to assist with the evacuation.
At approximately 8:30 a.m., Chess was airlifted off the mountain by the Army National Guard helicopter. He was then transported by ambulance to Concord Hospital.
No further information is available at this time.
Mike P.
Well-known member
IMO some validity for the higher trailhead argument as a few more people may go there. It does not sway the vast majority or have any impact in this case, this is a fall, could happen anywhere, had he got his hand out in front of him & stopped his face from breaking his fall, likely a non-event
I'd wager many of beginning White Mountain hikers who don't stop here for their info try some of these below as first peaks: (I wonder if the WMG could have a small appendix on first 4K's to try, seperate from easy to mod hike sections in each section & descriptions that tell people which trails are bad WHich are easier?)
Washington, popular because you only have to go up (or down) for those who don't care about the FTFC. The majority of the population (not the smart folks here) think It's the tallest & baddest
After that Tecumseh probably gets some traffic from beginners, it's the lowest. some people may equate lower to easier, after all the tallest one is the baddest one.
Franoconia Loop, in summer & early this trailhead is overfilled, from the south, it's pretty easy to get too. I've seen it recommended in Walking magazine & other non-hiking places, if you asked me my favorite hike I'd say this one too. (I'd try & go off season or mid-week) It tends to get it's fair share of accidents, especially near & in winter, after, all "it's not in the Presidentials"...
After that there is something to be said about a 3,000 foot trailhead, a 2.5 hike & only 2700 of elevation gain. Compare that with the Tuckerman's trip 4.4 or so & 4200 of elevation gain. If you are just beginning that sounds pretty easy. I think Ike up Edmands is longer with about the same elevation gain too, trail conditions are very different though
You don't see many rescues on Shelborne Moriah, Zealand, South Carter & probably a few more. They don't generate traffic because they either are not on a list or only appeal to people chasing the list & usually are not anyone's first peak either. (probably not first 10 in many case)
I'd wager many of beginning White Mountain hikers who don't stop here for their info try some of these below as first peaks: (I wonder if the WMG could have a small appendix on first 4K's to try, seperate from easy to mod hike sections in each section & descriptions that tell people which trails are bad WHich are easier?)
Washington, popular because you only have to go up (or down) for those who don't care about the FTFC. The majority of the population (not the smart folks here) think It's the tallest & baddest
After that Tecumseh probably gets some traffic from beginners, it's the lowest. some people may equate lower to easier, after all the tallest one is the baddest one.
Franoconia Loop, in summer & early this trailhead is overfilled, from the south, it's pretty easy to get too. I've seen it recommended in Walking magazine & other non-hiking places, if you asked me my favorite hike I'd say this one too. (I'd try & go off season or mid-week) It tends to get it's fair share of accidents, especially near & in winter, after, all "it's not in the Presidentials"...
After that there is something to be said about a 3,000 foot trailhead, a 2.5 hike & only 2700 of elevation gain. Compare that with the Tuckerman's trip 4.4 or so & 4200 of elevation gain. If you are just beginning that sounds pretty easy. I think Ike up Edmands is longer with about the same elevation gain too, trail conditions are very different though
You don't see many rescues on Shelborne Moriah, Zealand, South Carter & probably a few more. They don't generate traffic because they either are not on a list or only appeal to people chasing the list & usually are not anyone's first peak either. (probably not first 10 in many case)
Willoughby
Member
... because there's not much reason to go there, and the traffic on the Twinway is mostly AT or hut-to-hut groups. At least that was my observation yesterday. I wouldn't have been surprised to see a few hiker carcasses on the Zealand spurMike P. said:
(Sorry, couldn't resist. You make a good point.)
dr_wu002
Well-known member
Statistical aberration. If there were 10 rescues one year and then 150 the next, that could be significant. However 2 this year then 9 the next has more to do with luck (or lack thereof considering it's an injury).Fisher Cat said:
It's an area where accidents can happen walking around jagged rocks like that. You have an additional 5 people who put there foot in the wrong place and suddenly you have 5 more rescues to report on this site. It could be an indication of something else but I wouldn't say that it has statistical significance.
-Dr. Wu
giggy
New member
I have heard of 2 rescues this year. This one is just a "s**T happens". Bad luck, hope the fellow heals up good. Sorry to hear this.
Mike P.
Well-known member
On the least accessible peak, I'd disagree, Jewell & Cap's Ridge. In winter it used to be least accessible when Base Road was closed.
In winter it's still not easy but Zealand & Bonds probably harder, more exposed than Zealand & rock fragments not as easy to walk on than trails on Bonds although can fill some of those in. (of the 14 or so I have left in winter these five are on the list, hopefully get a good day this year to knock Jefferson off)
In winter it's still not easy but Zealand & Bonds probably harder, more exposed than Zealand & rock fragments not as easy to walk on than trails on Bonds although can fill some of those in. (of the 14 or so I have left in winter these five are on the list, hopefully get a good day this year to knock Jefferson off)
Fisher Cat
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OK, so its just me then. But one has to admit that the one earlier this year with the dad and daughter from PA was a classic "where are we & what do we do now ?"scenario.
BTW dr wu-we just got a Maine Coon, name is Baxter Algonquin Penobscot
BTW dr wu-we just got a Maine Coon, name is Baxter Algonquin Penobscot
Kevin Judy and Emma
Well-known member
Update
A friend of mine from MW who has done a lot of rescues in his career sent me this report and link.
"The hiker who smacked his eye by falling face first without even outstretching a hand to help break the fall, looked a lot worse in person. He lost sight in that eye, maybe a detached retina too, hope he'll recover his sight, haven't heard yet. I may have to pull this clip if F&G thinks its not PC due to HEPA rules but its up for now."
Jefferson rescue on youtube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f4zopIY_q8s
Thank God for people like Mike Pelchat and others who make up the rescue teams and especially NH Fish and Game, who lead all rescues! A tip of the hat to NHANG, too, without whom this quick medivac flight would have been impossible! A stumble like this could have happened to any one of us!
KDT
A friend of mine from MW who has done a lot of rescues in his career sent me this report and link.
"The hiker who smacked his eye by falling face first without even outstretching a hand to help break the fall, looked a lot worse in person. He lost sight in that eye, maybe a detached retina too, hope he'll recover his sight, haven't heard yet. I may have to pull this clip if F&G thinks its not PC due to HEPA rules but its up for now."
Jefferson rescue on youtube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f4zopIY_q8s
Thank God for people like Mike Pelchat and others who make up the rescue teams and especially NH Fish and Game, who lead all rescues! A tip of the hat to NHANG, too, without whom this quick medivac flight would have been impossible! A stumble like this could have happened to any one of us!
KDT
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bobandgeri
Well-known member
Wow - great video! Thanks for posting. Hope everything turned out okay for the gentleman.
erugs
New member
Did you see that two people had to be rescued this weekend? "Using the light from their cell phones, Corwin and MacLean were able to find the intersection of the Castle and Link trails." They called successfully for assistance. They climbed Washington via Ammonoosuc. Their plan had been to go down Jewel but they missed it.
TEO
Well-known member
Kevin said:
Yowzers! That hurts just to think about.
Often, I think cell phones are a crutch and people use them as a first resort, rather than a last (apparently not the case in this instance). Thus, I'm not one to encourage people to carry them in the backcountry.
SherpaKroto
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Anyone who doubts that the accessibility/elevation of Caps Ridge is not a factor in its popularity should hike it on a sunny weekend day.
Tough accident. Sounds like they were well prepared, and kept their wits about them.
Tough accident. Sounds like they were well prepared, and kept their wits about them.
chipc said:I am sure was a recent newspaper article describing an adventurous hike up Jefferson that now has everyone running there
I climbed Caps a while before that article came out and 50 people were on the trail. There were also people there who didn't know it was hard. No one can come up with a guage on how an article effects numbers.
marchowes
New member
rocket21 said:
That article has nothing to do with popularity derived dangers of Jefferson or caps ridge. The fact that the hikers used it as a bailout after missing the turn onto Jewell would actually suggest the opposite. The hikers were clearly hiking Washington in a loop, got lost and were rescued at a junction north of Jefferson. Hardly something I would call "Jefferson strikes again".
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