WMNF Safety Database

What goes wrong in the White Mountains

A searchable record of fatalities, rescues, and search-and-rescue missions in the White Mountain National Forest, drawn from NH Fish and Game press releases, the Mount Washington Avalanche Center, and major regional outlets quoting agency statements.

Compiled and maintained by Nick Dube, NH 48 finisher and longtime White Mountains hiker · updated daily from NH Fish & Game. Modern-era (2015+) figures best represent current risk — the deep historical record skews fatal because routine rescues weren’t archived the way deaths were.

404
Total incidents
Documented since 1849
248
Survived
Self-rescued or rescued by SAR
150
Fatal
6 missing, never found
89%
Survival rate · 2015+
262 modern incidents
This database is a work in progress. We’re actively reviewing sources and adding incidents, so counts will grow and details may be refined over time.

Before you go: the Hiker Responsibility Code

Nearly every incident in this database was survivable — and many were preventable. You are responsible for yourself, so be prepared:

  • 1.With knowledge and gear
  • 2.To leave your plans
  • 3.To stay together
  • 4.To turn back
  • 5.For emergencies
  • 6.To share the hiker code with others

Check the current conditions before any hike, carry the Ten Essentials, start early, and turn around when weather or daylight runs short.

The long record

Documented incidents by decade. Survived rescues in forest green, fatalities in alert red. Hover a decade for its breakdown, or a year marker for the milestone. The pre-2015 period skews fatal not because the backcountry was deadlier then, but because rescues are not archived the way deaths are.

63127190253'40s'60s'80s'00s'20s'40s'60s'80s'00s'20s
1849
1901
1954
1982
2015
SurvivedFatalMissing or unknown

When incidents happen

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

JFMAMJJASOND
Survived51612152529393327251111
Fatal1815161211141014121375

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

What goes wrong

Primary cause of each incident, split by outcome. Click a row to filter the database below.

  1. Fall176 total · 124 survived · 52 fatal
  2. Medical88 total · 57 survived · 31 fatal
  3. Hypothermia37 total · 7 survived · 30 fatal
  4. Lost35 total · 33 survived
  5. Avalanche17 total · 2 survived · 15 fatal
  6. Exposure15 total · 7 survived · 8 fatal
  7. Other12 total · 6 survived · 5 fatal
  8. Navigation error11 total · 8 survived
  9. Falling ice5 total · 2 survived · 3 fatal
  10. Drowning5 total · 0 survived · 5 fatal
  11. Water crossing3 total · 2 survived · 1 fatal

Where it happens

Peaks with the most documented incidents. Note that this is raw count, not per-visit — popularity is a confound.

  1. Mount Washington137 total · 28 · 105
  2. Mount Chocorua13 total · 12 · 1
  3. Mount Lafayette12 total · 9 · 3
  4. Mount Madison10 total · 4 · 6
  5. Mount Cannon8 total · 5 · 3
  6. Mount Moosilauke6 total · 5 · 1
  7. Welch-Dickey6 total · 6 · 0
  8. Mount Jefferson6 total · 1 · 5
  9. Mount Adams5 total · 0 · 4
  10. Mount Flume5 total · 5 · 0
  11. Mount Eisenhower5 total · 3 · 1
  12. Mount Cube4 total · 4 · 0

Where incidents happen

Incidents mapped to the peak they’re linked to — bigger, redder circles mean more incidents and a higher fatal share. Click a peak to see its record.

Only incidents linked to a specific peak appear here; trail- or region-only reports are in the database below.

The playbook

What works · what gets people out alive

The bulk of WMNF backcountry incidents end in successful rescue. NH Fish and Game handles 200+ a year statewide; what follows is what the documented modern record (2015+) shows about the patterns that get people home.

89%
Modern survival rate
232 survived, 30 fatal · since 2015
100%
Most-survived cause
Lost · 33/33 live
100%
Most-fatal cause
Drowning · 5/5 die

Documented rescues — what saved them

·Mount Bond

66-year-old male from Plymouth, NH

Bailey, hiking out alone after a night at Guyot Shelter, slipped and fell on a steep descent of the Bondcliff Trail, injuring his leg about 7.5 miles into the backcountry. He texted NH 911 and was hoisted out by an Army National Guard Black Hawk and flown to Dartmouth Hitchcock. Fish and Game noted he was well-prepared.

Lesson · Hikers are encouraged to be prepared for their trek by packing the ten essential items: map, compass, warm clothing, extra food and water, headlamp, fire starter, first aid kit, whistle, rain/wind jackets and pants, and a knife.

NH Fish and Game
·Mount Lafayette

Susan Kuruvilla, 71, of Pennsylvania; Mini Kuruvilla, 52, of Texas; Joel Mathew, 21, of Connecticut

Three hikers started the Franconia Ridge Loop at 9:00 a.m. on May 11, 2026, and by 9:00 p.m. found themselves approximately 2 miles from the trailhead with no lights and unable to locate the trail as temperatures dropped into the low 20s. Conservation Officers hiked up the Old Bridle Path, located the group, provided lights, and assisted them back to the trailhead at 2:00 a.m. on May 12.

Lesson · NH Fish and Game reminded hikers that it is still winter in the mountains with snow, wind, and freezing temperatures, and to bring at least the 10 essentials on any hike.

NH Fish and Game
·Mount Liberty

Two female hikers, ages 38 and 43, from Quebec, Canada

On April 27, 2026, Jessica Fournier-Chartrand (38) and Annie Petrin (43) became disoriented on the Franconia Ridge Trail between Mount Liberty and Little Haystack Mountain due to fading light and knee-deep snow. They called for help while navigating with the AllTrails app, which they reported contributed to their confusion. Two conservation officers reached the pair at 11:15 p.m. and assisted them down 2.2 miles of steep icy trail, exiting at 2:22 a.m. on April 28 without injuries.

Lesson · New Hampshire Fish and Game reminded everyone that winter conditions still exist in the White Mountains and directed hikers to hikesafe.com for safe hiking tips and essential gear information.

NH Fish and Game
·

56-year-old male from North Reading, Massachusetts

Jonathan Gullotti, 56, left the Glen Boulder trailhead at approximately 8:45 a.m. on April 20, 2026, became caught in a snowstorm, made several wrong turns, and ended up on the Rocky Branch Trail. He called for help after realizing he was lost and needed directions out. Conservation Officers and US Forest Service members drove to within approximately 2 miles of Gullotti and directed him out by approximately 7:40 p.m.

Lesson · Hikers are reminded that spring conditions in the mountains can change quickly and preparation is important; having the 10 essentials, including a map, can greatly improve the outcome of a mountain trip.

NH Fish and Game

The full record

Every published incident, freshest first. Search below, or filter by outcome, year, type, or any of the chart breakdowns above.

Outcome
All · 404Survived · 248Fatal · 150
Year
1849 · 11855 · 11856 · 11869 · 11872 · 11874 · 11886 · 11890 · 11900 · 21912 · 11928 · 11929 · 11931 · 11932 · 21933 · 21934 · 11936 · 21937 · 11938 · 11940 · 11941 · 11943 · 11948 · 11949 · 11952 · 21954 · 21956 · 31958 · 31959 · 11962 · 21964 · 31965 · 21968 · 11969 · 51971 · 31972 · 21973 · 11974 · 11975 · 11976 · 31979 · 21980 · 41981 · 11982 · 31983 · 31984 · 11986 · 31990 · 11991 · 11992 · 21994 · 61995 · 11996 · 61997 · 11999 · 22000 · 22001 · 12002 · 22004 · 42008 · 12009 · 12010 · 12011 · 32012 · 72013 · 82014 · 52015 · 12016 · 12017 · 22018 · 32019 · 62020 · 42021 · 92022 · 102023 · 612024 · 792025 · 662026 · 24
Type
Avalanche · 17SAR (no subject found) · 6Rescue · 246Body recovery · 15Fatality · 120
16 matches · Avalanche, mount-washington
Clear all

showing 1–16 of 16

·Mount Washington·Airplane Gully
AvalancheAvalanche

30-year-old male skier from Bow, NH

Dominick Torro, 30, triggered an avalanche while skiing Airplane Gully in the Great Gulf on Mount Washington on December 9, 2023, sustaining a life-threatening lower-leg injury. Two other skiers on scene provided aid and called 911. Torro was hoisted into a National Guard helicopter at 3:55 p.m. and flown to Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center.

·Mount Washington·Ammonoosuc Ravine
AvalancheAvalanche

Ian Forgays, 54, of Lincoln, Vermont (very experienced backcountry skier)

Forgays was skiing alone in Ammonoosuc Ravine on the western side of Mt. Washington when an avalanche took his life — the first avalanche fatality recorded on that side of the mountain. Conditions were single-digit temperatures with about 33 mph winds, and the avalanche danger had been rated 'low,' though isolated unstable wind-drifted snow remained possible.

Lesson

The account stresses that 'low' hazard does not mean 'no' hazard and that isolated areas of unstable snow can exist even on low-danger days.

Solo
·Mount Washington·Raymond Cataract
AvalancheAvalanche

Nicholas D. Benedix, 32, of Campton, NH

Benedix was skiing alone in Raymond Cataract (between Tuckerman and Huntington Ravines) when a human-triggered avalanche (about 135 feet wide at the crown) buried him under about five feet of snow for roughly an hour. He was found and dug out (rescuers noted one set of tracks in and none out) but was pronounced dead about 4 p.m. The avalanche danger had been posted as 'moderate.'

Solo
·Mount Washington
AvalancheAvalanche

24-year-old medical student from Boise, ID (attending Columbia)

James 'Jimmy' Watts, 24, an experienced mountaineer and former president of the Harvard Mountaineering Club, was solo and unroped ice climbing Pinnacle Gully on March 1, 2013 when he triggered a slab avalanche. Per WMNF spokeswoman Tiffany Benna, the avalanche pushed Watts 1,000 feet down Huntington Ravine. An emergency room physician who was also climbing in the area found him more than 1,000 feet below the gully around 3 p.m. and, per WMNF Lead Snow Ranger Chris Joosen, 'checked for vital signs... but found none.'

Solo
·Mount Washington
AvalancheAvalanche

39-year-old from Bartlett, TN (Lewiston, ME native)

Peter Roux, 39, was solo ice climbing in Odell Gully on January 18, 2008 — a day rated 'High' for avalanche danger by the Mount Washington Avalanche Center — when an avalanche, believed to be climber-triggered, carried him down. Reported overdue that evening, his body was found the next morning roughly 400 feet below the gully. The day's posted bulletin stated that natural and human-triggered avalanches were likely and travel was not recommended; Odell Gully sat in the direct lee of wind loading as winds shifted west.

Lesson

High avalanche danger ratings in Huntington Ravine are not advisory in name only — the AAC accident report frames this as a posted-high day on a gully that was loaded by the prevailing wind direction.

Solo
·Mount Washington
AvalancheAvalanche

46-year-old from Springfield, NH (formerly Barre, VT)

In the same November 29, 2002 Tuckerman Ravine avalanche that killed Scott Sandberg, Thomas Burke, 46, was soloing on or above the Lip when the slide carried him roughly 1,000 feet down the headwall. Per the American Alpine Club report, 'Tom Burke, who had just survived a 100-foot fall, was swept away and buried, suffering fatal trauma.' Bystanders dug him out and performed CPR for about 20 minutes without success. The day's posted avalanche danger was 'moderate' — the second-lowest on a five-rating scale.

·Mount Washington
AvalancheAvalanche

32-year-old from Arlington, MA

On November 29, 2002 an avalanche swept seven climbers about 1,000 feet down Tuckerman Ravine around 11:30 a.m. Scott Sandberg, 32, was at the base roping up with a partner when the slide hit; he was buried 2-3 feet below the surface and found after a roughly two-hour search. He died of massive head and neck injuries. None of the seven climbers caught in the slide were carrying avalanche transceivers. Forest Service snow rangers had posted a moderate avalanche warning that morning, the second-lowest level on a five-rating scale.

Lesson

Per Forest Service Snow Ranger Chris Joosen, most avalanche fatalities on Mount Washington occur under 'moderate' hazard ratings; warnings posted at the bulletin board are routinely ignored once climbers reach the snow.

·Mount Washington
AvalancheAvalanche

19-year-old from Bécancour, QC

Alexandre Cassan, 19, was one of four hikers who lost the (recently closed) Old Lion Head Winter Route into avalanche terrain on January 5, 1996, after passing closure and warning signs. He was killed by the resulting slide.

Lesson

Trail closures on Mount Washington are posted because the recent terrain has become avalanche-prone. Cassan's party walked past explicit warning signage and entered the avalanche path.

·Mount Washington
AvalancheAvalanche

28-year-old Mountain Rescue Service volunteer from Tuftonboro, NH

Albert Dow, 28, a volunteer with Mountain Rescue Service, was killed by an avalanche while searching for two lost ice climbers (Hugh Herr and Jeffrey Batzer) on January 25, 1982. After topping out of Odell's Gully, he and partner Michael Hartrich (who survived) followed tracks and crossed below treeline into avalanche terrain near Lion Head. He remains the first and only backcountry SAR volunteer killed in the line of duty in the White Mountains. His death led to workers' compensation and life insurance coverage for NH Fish and Game volunteers, and to broader avalanche-beacon adoption among rescuers.

Lesson

Avalanche hazard can exist in terrain previously assumed safe, including below treeline. Dow's death drove policy changes — beacon use among rescuers, and statutory protections for SAR volunteers.

·Mount Washington
AvalancheAvalanche

25-year-old trip leader from Toledo, OH

Philip Longnecker, 25, and his partner Jacques Parysko built an igloo at the foot of the Tuckerman Ravine headwall against the advice of others on January 31, 1954. An avalanche collapsed the igloo overnight, killing Longnecker in the slide. Their deaths are the first recorded avalanche-related fatalities on Mount Washington.

Lesson

Never camp beneath avalanche-prone headwalls when established emergency shelters are within reach. Both fatalities passed working emergency telephones and first-aid caches during their attempted descent.

Novice in winter terrainNo emergency shelter

Frequently asked questions

How many hiking deaths and rescues are documented in the White Mountains?+

This database documents 404 incidents in the White Mountain National Forest — including 150 fatalities — dating back to 1849. It is not a complete tally of every rescue: NH Fish and Game responds to roughly 200 backcountry incidents a year statewide. It captures the documented fatality record plus a growing, primary-sourced sample of rescues, updated daily.

What is the most common cause of hiking incidents in the White Mountains?+

In this dataset, the most frequently recorded primary factor is fall, in 176 incidents. Getting lost, falls, hypothermia, and underestimating the terrain recur throughout the record — and most are preventable with preparation.

Which White Mountain peak has the most recorded incidents?+

Mount Washington has the most recorded incidents in this database (137). Higher counts reflect both terrain and popularity — the busiest, most exposed peaks generate the most calls, so this is not a pure measure of danger.

Is Mount Washington dangerous to hike?+

Mount Washington and the Presidential Range pair some of the world's most extreme, fast-changing weather with miles of exposure above treeline. The documented record shows hypothermia, falls, and getting lost as recurring factors — even in summer. It is regularly hiked safely, but it demands real preparation: check the Higher Summits Forecast, carry layers and traction, and be willing to turn back.

How can I avoid needing a search and rescue?+

Follow the hikeSafe Hiker Responsibility Code — you are responsible for yourself, so be prepared: (1) with knowledge and gear, (2) to leave your plans, (3) to stay together, (4) to turn back, (5) for emergencies, and (6) to share the hiker code with others. Check the forecast, carry the Ten Essentials, start early, and turn around when conditions or daylight run short.

Where does this data come from, and can I cite it?+

Every entry is drawn from a primary or near-primary source — NH Fish and Game press releases, the Mount Washington Avalanche Center, the American Alpine Club accident archive, or major regional outlets quoting agency statements — and the database updates daily from new NH Fish and Game releases. You're welcome to cite it; a suggested citation and a downloadable CSV are at the bottom of this page.

About this dataset

This database contains 404 documented incidents in the White Mountain National Forest. Each row is sourced from a primary or near-primary report — NH Fish and Game press releases, the Mount Washington Avalanche Center, the American Alpine Club's accident archive, or major regional outlets quoting agency statements.

The rescue-to-fatality ratio shown here is not the WMNF safety ratio. Fatalities have been consistently archived since the 19th century; routine rescues have not. NH Fish and Game handles roughly 200 backcountry incidents a year statewide — this database currently captures a fraction of them in detail, alongside the historical fatality record. Modern-era (2015+) figures are the most representative.

Every entry is a real person and a real event. We publish them as a public-safety resource, not as a memorial leaderboard. Names appear only when published in the cited source. If you are a family member and would like an entry adjusted or removed, contact us via the site footer.

Citing this data: HikerNerd. (2026). White Mountain National Forest Hiker Incident Database. https://hikernerd.com/safety/incidents

Download the full dataset (CSV)

Database last refreshed at .