Rescue — Mt. Washington, Jun 12, 2025
43-year-old female hiker from Quebec, Canada
On the evening of June 12, 2025, Nadia Ouellette, 43, was found exhausted and cold on the Jewell Trail approximately 2.5 miles above the Cog Railway Base Station on Mt. Washington. A Conservation Officer and three AVSAR members located her at 11:47 p.m. in temperatures around 33°F with winds gusting over 60 mph. She was given warm clothing and assisted down the trail, arriving safely at the Base Station at approximately 6:15 a.m. on June 13.
What we can learn
Anyone venturing into high mountain areas should prepare not only for conditions while moving and generating heat, but also for sitting still in an exposed area should they become incapacitated, as sub-freezing temperatures and winter-like conditions still persist on high, windswept slopes even in summer.
Contributing factors