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RescueOutcome: Rescued by SARFall

Rescue — Mount Washington, Feb 17, 2024

·Mount Washington·Ammonoosuc Ravine (off-trail, west of Westside Trail)

Cole Matthes, 22, of Portsmouth, NH

Matthes fell and was injured off-trail in a drainage ravine at about 4,500 feet on the western slope of Mt. Washington and called 911 with poor reception. A multi-team rescue (11 rescuers) extracted him; Fish and Game stated his choices as an inexperienced solo hiker put many lives at risk and that he would otherwise likely have died.

What we can learn

Fish and Game pointedly criticized the decision-making of an inexperienced solo hiker pushing into dangerous off-trail winter terrain.

Contributing factors

SoloOff trailNovice in winter terrain
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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.