WMNF incident database
Mount Washington

Mount Washington Hiking Incidents, Deaths & Rescues

Mount Washington appears in 156 documented incidents in this database — 36 survived and 114 fatal. The causes that recur most here are fall, medical, hypothermia. Higher counts partly reflect how heavily a peak is hiked, not just how dangerous it is — it’s hiked safely far more often than not, but it rewards real preparation.

156
Incidents
36
Survived
114
Fatal

Most common causes on Mount Washington

  • Fall60 incidents
  • Medical26 incidents
  • Hypothermia23 incidents
  • Avalanche17 incidents
  • Lost7 incidents
  • Other6 incidents

When incidents happen

Documented incidents by month. Darker = more. Incidents cluster in February; winter incidents skew toward ice and traction, summer toward heat and exhaustion.

JFMAMJJASOND
Survived4251466321
Fatal15131391098109853

Based on incidents with a known date. Use it to plan the season — not to assume any month is “safe.”

Every documented incident on Mount Washington

Each links to the full sourced report.

Planning to hike Mount Washington? Most of these were survivable with preparation. Check current conditions and the best-day forecast for Mount Washington before you go.

Frequently asked

Is Mount Washington dangerous to hike?+

Mount Washington appears in 156 documented incidents in this database, including 114 fatal. The most common contributing factors here are fall, medical, hypothermia. Higher counts partly reflect how heavily a peak is hiked, not just how dangerous it is — Mount Washington is hiked safely far more often than not. Check the forecast, carry the Ten Essentials, start early, and be willing to turn back when conditions or daylight run short.

How many people have died on Mount Washington?+

This database documents 114 deaths on Mount Washington out of 156 recorded incidents. The record reaches back into the historical archive and is updated as new reports are reviewed, so it captures the documented fatality record plus a growing, primary-sourced sample of rescues — not a complete tally of every call.

Part of the WMNF Hiker Incident Database. This tracks hiking and backcountry incidents — widely-cited mountain death tolls also count non-hiking fatalities (railway and auto-road accidents, aircraft, skiing, natural causes at the summit) that this database doesn't. Counts reflect the documented record, not every call NH Fish and Game responds to.