RescueOutcome: Self-rescuedLost
Rescue — Kinsman Ridge Trail, Apr 16, 2012
·Kinsman Ridge Trail
20-year-old male from Littleton, NH
Dylan Jessen, age 20, set out to hike the 15-mile Kinsman Ridge Trail starting at 1:00 p.m. on April 16, 2012, without a light, map, or warm clothing. He lost cell contact with his mother around 7:00 p.m. with five miles remaining, then stopped navigating in the dark and slept off-trail overnight. He walked out unharmed at approximately 8:45 a.m. the following morning after an overnight search by multiple agencies failed to locate him.
What we can learn
Allow ample time for hikes and always be prepared for an unplanned overnight by taking proper equipment, including warm clothing and a light source.
Contributing factors
No headlampNo mapInadequate clothingUnderestimated distanceLate start