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SAR (no subject found)Outcome: MissingLost

SAR (no subject found) — Mt. Lafayette, Jan 20, 2007

·Mount Lafayette·Old Bridle Path

24-year-old male graduate student from Merrimack, NH · party of 3

Brian Gagnon, age 24, became separated from his two hiking companions on Mt. Lafayette on January 20, 2007, after the group encountered severe winds, extremely low temperatures, and limited visibility and decided to turn back. Gagnon hiked ahead of the others but never returned to the trailhead; he made cell phone contact at approximately 4:30 p.m. Saturday and 8:00 a.m. Sunday, reporting he was below treeline in a drainage but unsure which side of the mountain. An extensive search by eight teams on Sunday was hampered by winds up to 60 MPH and cold temperatures, with the search continuing Monday morning.

Contributing factors

SoloWeather window missed
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Other recorded incidents on Mount Lafayette

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