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.
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.
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Survived
5
16
12
15
25
29
39
33
27
25
11
11
Fatal
18
15
16
12
11
14
10
14
12
13
7
5
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Madison Saltsburg, 20, of Dillsburg, PA (University of Vermont junior)
Saltsburg and a partner ascended Left Gully on foot intending to ski; both slipped near the top of The Lip and fell about 600 vertical feet to the ravine floor. Saltsburg died of traumatic injuries; her partner sustained life-threatening injuries, and a third person was critically injured in a separate sliding fall on Hillman's Highway the same afternoon. The snowpack was refrozen and firm; avalanche hazard was LOW that day.
Lesson
MWAC stressed that Tuckerman Ravine is mountaineering terrain where the consequences of a sliding fall on firm snow can be dire — the majority of winter fatalities there are long sliding falls, not avalanches.
·Mount Washington·Central Gully approach / Huntington Ravine (the Fan boulder field)
FatalityFall
Jeremy Ullmann, 37, of Somerville, Massachusetts (experienced rock climber but novice ice climber; neuroscientist at Boston Children's Hospital)
Per the Mount Washington Avalanche Center accident analysis, Ullmann 'fell on the steep, icy snow surface on the approach to Central Gully and slid approximately 300 feet' into the boulder field known as the Fan. Snow ranger Frank Carus told NHPR: 'The scratches on the snow indicate that he made an attempt to arrest. He had two ice axes, one of which dragged quite well through the snow for a long distance.' Reported overdue at about 4:45 p.m., his body was found around 7:45 p.m. He was the 160th person to die on Mount Washington per Conway Daily Sun.
Lesson
The Avalanche Center noted self-arrest was very difficult in the hard, icy conditions (formed by preceding warm temperatures and rain) and that avoiding a fall in the first place is paramount.
Luc Paquette, 25, was descending the Tuckerman Ravine Trail with friends on September 19, 2013 when he stepped off-trail to view a waterfall and fill his water bottle, slipped on wet terrain, and fell roughly 150 feet onto a ledge. Despite an extensive rescue involving a National Guard Black Hawk, he was pronounced dead at Memorial Hospital.
Lesson
Mount Washington Observatory guidance cited at the time: the Tuckerman Ravine Trail 'ascends a cliff, and travel off the trail would bring you over a precipice with disastrous results.' Two off-trail waterfall-viewing fatalities (Baillie 2010, Paquette 2013) on the same trail in three years.
Norman Priebatsch, 67, lost his footing on April 1, 2012 while hiking with his son and fell into an open crevasse leading to an under-snow waterfall in Tuckerman Ravine. His body remained inaccessible under the snow until it was recovered in May 2012 as the snowpack opened.
Patrick Scott Powers, 46, summited Mount Washington on January 9, 2012 and then fell roughly 800 feet down icy slopes into Tuckerman Ravine while descending after dark. A caretaker reported seeing a headlamp moving down a cliff at high speed. Rescuers reached him alive but he died of his injuries. Summit conditions at the time were approximately 9°F with winds 40-50 mph and low visibility.
Christopher Baillie, 24, hiking the Tuckerman Ravine Trail with four friends on July 17, 2010, left the trail to view a waterfall, slipped on wet rocks, and was swept over the headwall — falling an estimated 100 to 200 feet. Per NH Fish and Game Capt. Kevin Jordan, 'he got too close to the edge and the water swept his feet out from under him.'
Lesson
NH Fish and Game emphasized the hazards of leaving the marked trail near the Tuckerman Ravine headwall waterfall. The drainage that looks like a viewing spot from above terminates in a long cliff drop.
Dr. Wieslaw Walczak, 62, an experienced hiker described by his wife as familiar with the area, did not return from a planned Tuckerman Ravine hike and was reported missing the night of November 21, 2009. His body was found the next morning in the steep headwall area. New Hampshire Fish and Game stated everything at the scene was consistent with an unexpected fall.
Jason Gaumond, 28, was last seen on January 27, 2004 and reported missing. His body was recovered on January 30, 2004 from the base of Yale Gully in Huntington Ravine after an apparent fall while descending. Summit-area conditions during the window were severe — temperatures around -11°F, sustained winds averaging 75 mph with gusts to 100 mph. The incident was not avalanche-related.
Cheryl Weingarten, 21, died after falling into a snow crevasse on the Tuckerman Ravine Headwall on May 1, 1994. Her body was recovered by an NH Fish and Game diver lowered into the crevasse — a case later central to a (dismissed) lawsuit against the U.S. Forest Service.
Mark Brockman, 19, died after a sliding fall on the icy summit cone of Mount Washington on March 27, 1983 — three days after a separate sliding-fall death in the same conditions (Kenneth Hokenson).
Kenneth Hokenson, 23, died after a sliding fall on the icy summit cone of Mount Washington in March 1983. A separate sliding-fall death of Mark Brockman occurred three days later in similar conditions.
Paul Flanigan, 26, died in Huntington Ravine alongside his partner David Shoemaker during a severe winter storm on February 14, 1979. Cause of death involved a fall compounded by hypothermia.
David Shoemaker, 21, died in Huntington Ravine alongside his partner Paul Flanigan during a severe winter storm on February 14, 1979. Cause of death involved a fall compounded by hypothermia.
Scott Whinnery, 25, died after a fall on Hillman's Highway in Tuckerman Ravine in May 1976.
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