A searchable record of fatalities, rescues, and search-and-rescue missions in the White Mountain National Forest, drawn from NH Fish and Game press releases, the Mount Washington Avalanche Center, and major regional outlets quoting agency statements.
Compiled and maintained by Nick Dube, NH 48 finisher and longtime White Mountains hiker · updated daily from NH Fish & Game. Modern-era (2015+) figures best represent current risk — the deep historical record skews fatal because routine rescues weren’t archived the way deaths were.
541
Total incidents
Documented since 1849
355
Survived
Self-rescued or rescued by SAR
174
Fatal
12 missing, never found
88%
Survival rate · 2015+
326 modern incidents
This database is a work in progress. We’re actively reviewing sources and adding incidents, so counts will grow and details may be refined over time.
Before you go: the Hiker Responsibility Code
Nearly every incident in this database was survivable — and many were preventable. You are responsible for yourself, so be prepared:
1.With knowledge and gear
2.To leave your plans
3.To stay together
4.To turn back
5.For emergencies
6.To share the hiker code with others
Check the current conditions before any hike, carry the Ten Essentials, start early, and turn around when weather or daylight runs short.
The long record
Documented incidents by decade. Survived rescues in forest green, fatalities in alert red. Hover a decade for its breakdown, or a year marker for the milestone. The pre-2015 period skews fatal not because the backcountry was deadlier then, but because rescues are not archived the way deaths are.
1849
1901
1954
1982
2015
SurvivedFatalMissing or unknown
When incidents happen
Documented incidents by month. Darker = more. Incidents cluster in July; winter incidents skew toward ice and traction, summer toward heat and exhaustion.
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Survived
10
18
15
21
32
41
65
49
38
39
14
11
Fatal
21
18
18
12
12
16
15
16
16
14
8
5
Based on incidents with a known date. Use it to plan the season — not to assume any month is “safe.”
Most common causes of hiking accidents
Primary cause of each incident, split by outcome. Bars lean green where help usually reaches people in time — getting lost, hypothermia — and red where the margin is thin, like falls and avalanches. Click a row to filter the database below.
Each marker is a peak, sized by how many incidents are linked to it and split by outcome. Tap a hotspot for the count and a link to that peak.
Where incidents happen
Incidents mapped to the peak they’re linked to — bigger, redder circles mean more incidents and a higher fatal share. Click a peak to see its record.
Only incidents linked to a specific peak appear here; trail- or region-only reports are in the database below.
The playbook
What works · what gets people out alive
The bulk of WMNF backcountry incidents end in successful rescue. NH Fish and Game handles 200+ a year statewide; what follows is what the documented modern record (2015+) shows about the patterns that get people home.
On October 10, 2026, a 57-year-old hiker slipped off a rock about 0.3 miles up the Mt. Willard Trail and sustained a significant lower leg injury that prevented her from bearing weight. Fish and Game Conservation Officers and Twin Mountain Fire Department members provided first aid and carried her out in a litter to the trailhead. She then traveled by personal vehicle to Littleton Regional Hospital for evaluation.
Lesson · Authorities reminded hikers to prepare for winter conditions in the White Mountains, as nighttime temperatures have been consistently below freezing and the high peaks are already snow-covered, and to be prepared to deal with real cold in the event of an emergency.
a 56-year-old from North Conway, NH; also a 68-year-old man from Thornton, NH who was overdue from a planned overnight stay
A 56-year-old hiker slipped and injured his lower leg while descending Owl's Head Mountain via the Brutus Bushwhack in the Pemigewasset Wilderness, and was carried out by a 29-person rescue team after a companion sought help and a Good Samaritan with a Garmin inReach alerted rescuers. Separately, a 68-year-old Thornton man was reported overdue after leaving for a hike and not returning, prompting a search involving drones and canines; he was found uninjured about a quarter mile from his residence, having planned an unannounced overnight stay in the woods.
Lesson · Leave a detailed plan with someone, including where you are going, trails you are hiking, and when you'll return.
On September 15, 2026, Kurt Siuzdak, a 61-year-old from Connecticut, slipped and fell on wet granite slabs below Lakes of the Clouds while hiking the Ammonoosuc Ravine Trail, dislocating his shoulder and injuring his back. He continued hiking toward the summit and was met by two Conservation Officers on the Crawford Path who assisted him the rest of the way. He reached the summit safely under his own power and was assessed by EMS before being driven back to his vehicle.
Lesson · Siuzdak credited NH Fish and Game's website recommendations for prompting him to pack extra warm clothing and a first aid kit, which proved needed after his fall.
On August 14, 2026, four 18-year-old hikers from New Jersey became stranded on Franconia Ridge near Mount Lincoln after starting their hike at 3:30 p.m. without headlamps, sufficient food, water, or appropriate clothing. One hiker was experiencing difficulty breathing and sore legs. Five Pemi Valley Search and Rescue volunteers and a Conservation Officer located them at 1:15 a.m. and guided them out, arriving at the trailhead at 9:07 a.m. on August 15.
Lesson · Outdoor enthusiasts are reminded that days are getting shorter and temperatures are getting colder; hikers should carry adequate gear including lights, food, water, and warm clothing for extended hikes.
On October 11, 2026, a hiker slipped and injured his left knee on the Champney Falls Trail on Mt. Chocorua, about 2.5 miles from the trailhead, and could not bear weight. With no cell service, a passing hiker went toward the summit to get a signal and call 911. Fish and Game officers and Lakes Region SAR splinted the knee and assisted him walking out, reaching the trailhead at 7:32 p.m.
On October 10, 2026, a 57-year-old hiker slipped off a rock about 0.3 miles up the Mt. Willard Trail and sustained a significant lower leg injury that prevented her from bearing weight. Fish and Game Conservation Officers and Twin Mountain Fire Department members provided first aid and carried her out in a litter to the trailhead. She then traveled by personal vehicle to Littleton Regional Hospital for evaluation.
Lesson
Authorities reminded hikers to prepare for winter conditions in the White Mountains, as nighttime temperatures have been consistently below freezing and the high peaks are already snow-covered, and to be prepared to deal with real cold in the event of an emergency.
On October 8, 2026, at about 5:15 p.m., a 72-year-old hiker called for help with a medical emergency approximately 2 miles from the Piper Trailhead on Mount Chocorua. Fish and Game Conservation Officers, Conway Fire and Rescue, and the U.S. Forest Service responded. He hiked out with assistance, met a Conway ambulance at about 7:55 p.m., and was taken to Memorial Hospital in Conway.
·No specific peak·trail near Cooks Pond
RescueOther
a 76-year-old woman from Silver Lake, NH
On Sunday, October 4, 2026, shortly after 12:00 p.m., NH Fish and Game was notified that a woman had suffered an injury while walking on a trail near Cooks Pond in Madison. Her husband called 911 and guided rescuers from Madison Fire and Rescue, Action EMS, the Carroll County Sheriffs and NH Fish and Game to her. She was placed in a litter and carried about a quarter mile to the trailhead, where an ambulance was waiting.
·West Rattlesnake Mountain·Old Bridle Path
FatalityMedical
Richard Chateauneuf, age 64, of Tyngsboro, MA
On October 3, 2026, responders were called to West Rattlesnake Mountain in Holderness for a hiker found unconscious along the trail. Responders found the hiker about three-quarters of a mile from the trailhead receiving CPR from other hikers, but he could not be revived. His body was carried to the trailhead.
·Bald Mountain·Artist Bluff and Bald Mountain Loop Trail
RescueFall
a 42-year-old from Apex, NC
On September 29, 2026, a 42-year-old hiker fell and suffered an injury preventing him from walking, about 0.5 miles from the trailhead on the Artist Bluff and Bald Mountain Loop Trail in Franconia. After a Conservation Officer evaluated the injury and the wet, slippery terrain, PEMI Valley Search and Rescue and other officers carried him out in a litter to the trailhead at 3:29 p.m. He was then taken by Littleton Ambulance to Littleton Regional Hospital.
A 48-year-old hiker struggled to ascend Tuckerman Ravine Trail and took a shuttle to the summit to meet his three companions, then attempted to hike down with them despite being told to turn around. He became unable to continue, and after multiple 911 calls and his companions' attempts to assist him, NH Fish and Game and AVSAR rescued him, bringing him down via the Sherburne ski trail on an ATV to Pinkham Notch Visitor Center. He was transported to a hospital for precautionary evaluation.
On September 23, 2026, John Campbell, 69, of North Woodstock, collapsed from an unknown medical event while hiking with his wife on the Mt. Willard Trail in Carroll. Passing hikers began CPR and 911 was called, and responders including Twin Mountain Fire and EMS, AMC personnel, and PEMISAR volunteers attempted lifesaving efforts. All efforts failed and the hiker died at the scene.
a 56-year-old from North Conway, NH; also a 68-year-old man from Thornton, NH who was overdue from a planned overnight stay
A 56-year-old hiker slipped and injured his lower leg while descending Owl's Head Mountain via the Brutus Bushwhack in the Pemigewasset Wilderness, and was carried out by a 29-person rescue team after a companion sought help and a Good Samaritan with a Garmin inReach alerted rescuers. Separately, a 68-year-old Thornton man was reported overdue after leaving for a hike and not returning, prompting a search involving drones and canines; he was found uninjured about a quarter mile from his residence, having planned an unannounced overnight stay in the woods.
Lesson
Leave a detailed plan with someone, including where you are going, trails you are hiking, and when you'll return.
On September 15, 2026, Kurt Siuzdak, a 61-year-old from Connecticut, slipped and fell on wet granite slabs below Lakes of the Clouds while hiking the Ammonoosuc Ravine Trail, dislocating his shoulder and injuring his back. He continued hiking toward the summit and was met by two Conservation Officers on the Crawford Path who assisted him the rest of the way. He reached the summit safely under his own power and was assessed by EMS before being driven back to his vehicle.
Lesson
Siuzdak credited NH Fish and Game's website recommendations for prompting him to pack extra warm clothing and a first aid kit, which proved needed after his fall.
Johanne Hebert, 62, slipped on a loose rock while descending Greenleaf Trail from the summit of Mount Lafayette and was injured. Fellow hikers helped her to Greenleaf Hut, where it was determined a carry-out was necessary. Over fifty rescuers, many just finishing SAR training, responded and carried her out over the three-mile difficult terrain.
On September 7, 2026, Andrew Mahoney, 58, of Madison, NH, had trouble descending the Jewell Trail with his wife and daughter due to a medical condition. Conservation Officers and his brother assisted him down, reaching him at 12:40 a.m. and helping him to the Base Station parking lot by 3:20 a.m.
Gregory Cook, 57, of North Reading, MA, slipped on a mucky section of trail while descending near the summit of Mount Osceola on September 6, 2026, and was injured. Other hikers helped stabilize him and assist his family down while he awaited rescue. Conservation Officers and Pemigewasset Valley Search and Rescue Team carried him down to the trailhead.
On the night of September 5, 47-year-old Joseph Gallagher of Grantham suffered a lower-leg injury after slipping and falling while on a night hike of Mount Cardigan with friends and family. A member of the party called 911, and rescuers stabilized him before carrying him out on a litter in rainy, slippery conditions to the trailhead. He was transported to Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center for treatment.
·No specific peak·Sabbaday Falls Trail
RescueFall
a 37-year-old from Norwood, MA
A hiker suffered a head injury on the Sabbaday Falls Trail in Waterville Valley, about a half mile from the trailhead. Conservation Officers and multiple fire and rescue agencies responded and placed her in a litter to carry her to the trailhead. She was then taken by ambulance for treatment.
Jeremy Hooten, 51, suffered a significant lower leg injury about half a mile north of the summit of Mt. Garfield while more than 5 miles from a trailhead. He splinted his own injury but could not walk without assistance. A team of 28 Pemigewasset Valley Search and Rescue volunteers and 3 Conservation Officers carried him by litter to Gale River Loop Road, where he was taken by ambulance to Littleton Regional Hospital.
On August 14, 2026, four 18-year-old hikers from New Jersey became stranded on Franconia Ridge near Mount Lincoln after starting their hike at 3:30 p.m. without headlamps, sufficient food, water, or appropriate clothing. One hiker was experiencing difficulty breathing and sore legs. Five Pemi Valley Search and Rescue volunteers and a Conservation Officer located them at 1:15 a.m. and guided them out, arriving at the trailhead at 9:07 a.m. on August 15.
Lesson
Outdoor enthusiasts are reminded that days are getting shorter and temperatures are getting colder; hikers should carry adequate gear including lights, food, water, and warm clothing for extended hikes.
No headlampInadequate clothingLate startUnderestimated distance
·No specific peak·Appalachian Trail
RescueFall
Miroslaw Lobasz (trail name Kermit), a 73-year-old from Newark, Delaware, thru-hiking the Appalachian Trail
On August 13, 2026, Miroslaw Lobasz fell down deck stairs at the Zealand Hut in Bethlehem, suffering a serious but non-life-threatening head injury. AMC staff assisted on scene while Pemigewasset Valley Search and Rescue Team volunteers and Conservation Officers hiked 2.8 miles to reach him. Lobasz was carried in a litter to the trailhead and transported by ambulance to Littleton Regional Hospital.
On August 12, 2026, a male hiker collapsed and was found unresponsive on the Mt. Hale Brook Trail in Bethlehem, approximately 1 mile from the trailhead. Lifesaving efforts were attempted by bystanders on scene. Rescuers from Pemi Valley Search and Rescue Team and Conservation Officers carried the hiker out, arriving at the trailhead at approximately 10:30 p.m.; the hiker did not survive.
·No specific peak·Sabbaday Falls Trail
RescueMedical
Erin Reuthe, a 37-year-old from Claremont, NH
On August 12, 2026, Erin Reuthe suffered a knee injury on the Sabbaday Falls Trail in Waterville Valley, NH. Conservation Officers and Conway Fire and Rescue located her less than a half mile from the trailhead. She was unable to walk and was transported by litter to the trailhead, then taken by ambulance for treatment.
A 15-year-old member of a 31-person Haverhill, MA Marine Corps JROTC group sustained an ankle injury while jumping rock to rock at the intersection of Valley Way and Watson Path on Mt. Madison on August 11, 2026. Conservation Officers directed the group to help the teen hobble down the trail while officers responded with ATVs. The injured hiker was transported by ATV to the Appalachia trailhead and evaluated by Gorham Ambulance before opting to seek further medical attention at home.
Cynthia Krum, a 65-year-old from South Portland, Maine
On August 9, 2026, Cynthia Krum, 65, slipped and fell from a rock while traversing the Link Trail on the north side of Mt. Jefferson, sustaining a leg injury that left her unable to walk. Her daughter called 911, and a rescue team of 3 Conservation Officers and 34 volunteers carried her out 1.6 miles to the Caps Ridge Trailhead. She was transported by ambulance to Littleton Regional Hospital.
·No specific peak·Gray Knob Trail
RescueFall
Daisy McCoy, a 75-year-old from Lyndon Center, VT
Daisy McCoy, 75, suffered a leg injury while descending the Gray Knob Trail toward the Gray Knob RMC Cabin on the evening of August 6, 2026. An RMC caretaker found her, retrieved a litter, and with the help of other hikers carried her to the cabin where she spent the night. The following morning, over 20 rescuers carried her down Lowe's Path to the road, where she was transported to Androscoggin Valley Hospital in Berlin.
·No specific peak
RescueLost
Megan Kelley, a 39-year-old from Fall River, MA
Megan Kelley, 39, went missing from Dolly Copp Campground in Martin's Location on Saturday morning, August 1, 2026, and was not located until the following morning after approximately 27 hours. She was found by a couple hiking a powerline road near mountain biking trails in Gorham, lying immobile on the side of the access road. She was transported by litter to a waiting ambulance and taken to Androscoggin Valley Hospital in Berlin with no life-threatening injuries.
·No specific peak·Lion Head Trail
RescueFall
Jade Dubois, a 19-year-old from Saint-Christophe-d'Arthabaska, Quebec
On July 28, 2026, Jade Dubois suffered a severe lower leg injury approximately ¼ mile above Hermit Lake Shelter on the Lion Head Trail, leaving her unable to walk. Good Samaritan hikers used a stash litter to carry her to the shelter, where Conservation Officers and AVSAR members assisted in transporting her via ATV down the Sherburne Ski Trail to Pinkham Notch Visitor Center. Dubois was met by a Gorham ambulance but refused hospital transport, opting to seek her own medical care.
Frequently asked questions
How many hiking deaths and rescues are documented in the White Mountains?+
This database documents 541 incidents in the White Mountain National Forest — including 174 fatalities — dating back to 1849. It is not a complete tally of every rescue: NH Fish and Game responds to roughly 200 backcountry incidents a year statewide. It captures the documented fatality record plus a growing, primary-sourced sample of rescues, updated daily.
How many people have died on Mount Washington?+
This database documents 114 deaths on Mount Washington out of 163 recorded incidents — more than any other White Mountain peak. That reflects both its severe, fast-changing weather (among the worst recorded anywhere) and its popularity, not a simple ranking of danger. Above treeline in the Presidential Range is where exposure, hypothermia, and falls recur most.
How many hikers die in the White Mountains each year?+
In the modern era (2015–2026), the documented record averages roughly 3.2 fatalities a year across the White Mountain National Forest, alongside far more non-fatal rescues — NH Fish and Game responds to around 200 backcountry incidents a year statewide. Year-to-year totals vary, and the deep historical record skews fatal because routine rescues weren't archived the way deaths were.
What is the most common cause of hiking incidents in the White Mountains?+
In this dataset, the most frequently recorded primary factor is fall, in 229 incidents. Getting lost, falls, hypothermia, and underestimating the terrain recur throughout the record — and most are preventable with preparation.
Which White Mountain peak has the most recorded incidents?+
Mount Washington has the most recorded incidents in this database (163). Higher counts reflect both terrain and popularity — the busiest, most exposed peaks generate the most calls, so this is not a pure measure of danger.
Is Mount Washington dangerous to hike?+
Mount Washington and the Presidential Range pair some of the world's most extreme, fast-changing weather with miles of exposure above treeline. The documented record shows hypothermia, falls, and getting lost as recurring factors — even in summer. It is regularly hiked safely, but it demands real preparation: check the Higher Summits Forecast, carry layers and traction, and be willing to turn back.
How can I avoid needing a search and rescue?+
Follow the hikeSafe Hiker Responsibility Code — you are responsible for yourself, so be prepared: (1) with knowledge and gear, (2) to leave your plans, (3) to stay together, (4) to turn back, (5) for emergencies, and (6) to share the hiker code with others. Check the forecast, carry the Ten Essentials, start early, and turn around when conditions or daylight run short.
Where does this data come from, and can I cite it?+
Every entry is drawn from a primary or near-primary source — NH Fish and Game press releases, the Mount Washington Avalanche Center, the American Alpine Club accident archive, or major regional outlets quoting agency statements — and the database updates daily from new NH Fish and Game releases. You're welcome to cite it; a suggested citation and a downloadable CSV are at the bottom of this page.
About this dataset
This database contains 541 documented incidents in the White Mountain National Forest. Each row is sourced from a primary or near-primary report — NH Fish and Game press releases, the Mount Washington Avalanche Center, the American Alpine Club's accident archive, or major regional outlets quoting agency statements.
It tracks hiking and backcountry incidents. Widely-cited mountain death tolls — like the ~160 recorded on Mount Washington since 1849 — also count non-hiking fatalities (Cog Railway and Auto Road accidents, aircraft crashes, skiing, and natural causes at the summit) that this database doesn't track, so our totals run lower than those figures by design.
The rescue-to-fatality ratio shown here is not the WMNF safety ratio. Fatalities have been consistently archived since the 19th century; routine rescues have not. NH Fish and Game handles roughly 200 backcountry incidents a year statewide — this database currently captures a fraction of them in detail, alongside the historical fatality record. Modern-era (2015+) figures are the most representative.
In the modern era (2015–present) the documented record averages roughly 3.2 fatalities a year across the White Mountain National Forest — the most sampling-robust figure on this page, and the one we'd stand behind in a citation.
Every entry is a real person and a real event. We publish them as a public-safety resource, not as a memorial leaderboard. Names appear only when the cited source published them, we never publish the name of a minor, and the downloadable dataset omits victim names entirely. If you are an immediate family member and would like a name or an entire entry removed, email us and we will, no questions asked.
Citing this data: HikerNerd. (2026). White Mountain National Forest Hiker Incident Database. https://hikernerd.com/safety/incidents