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RescueOutcome: Rescued by SARLost

Rescue — Bear Mountain, Oct 7, 2012

·Bear Mountain

Two Bucknell University students, ages 22 and 21 · party of 2

On October 7, 2012, two Bucknell University students, ages 22 and 21, bushwhacked to the top of Bear Mountain in Bartlett, NH from a campsite off Bear Notch Road but ran out of daylight on the descent and became lost. They had no headlamps, extra clothing, or food, and after a 911 call at 6:24 p.m. they left their location and were overtaken by darkness, enduring a 35-degree night with about three hours of cold rain. A New England K-9 Search and Rescue team found them, cold and hungry but in good health, at 7:15 a.m. on October 8.

What we can learn

Carry a headlamp, extra clothing, and food on fall hikes, allow time to be off the mountain before dark, and stay put once you call for help so searchers can reach your reported location.

Contributing factors

Off trailNo headlampInadequate clothing
Before you head out: check the forecast, carry the Ten Essentials, leave your plans with someone, and be willing to turn back. See current conditions →

Part of the WMNF Hiker Incident Database. Every entry cites a primary or near-primary source; details are refined as the record is reviewed.