All incidents
FatalityOutcome: FatalHypothermia

Fatality — Mount Washington, Jun 30, 1900

·Mount Washington·Crawford Path

63-year-old from New York, founder of the Fresh Air Club and a prominent figure in American amateur athletics · party of 2

William B. Curtis and his companion Allan Ormsbee pressed on into a June gale while hiking up to the AMC's summit meeting on Mount Washington. Curtis, 63, collapsed near the present-day Lakes of the Clouds. The deaths prompted the construction of the Lakes of the Clouds shelter the following year (1901).

What we can learn

Curtis and Ormsbee's deaths drove the original Lakes of the Clouds shelter — a permanent reminder that an extreme summer storm above treeline can kill experienced parties without bailout options.

Contributing factors

Ignored forecastInadequate 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 →

Other recorded incidents on Mount Washington

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