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.
Shaffer suffered a lower-leg injury on the upper Jewell Trail at about 5,000 feet after falling multiple times and could not continue. AVSAR (15 volunteers) and three conservation officers warmed her and her husband, treated her injury, and carried her out by litter, arriving roadside at 12:40 a.m.
Lesson
Conservation Officers reminded hikers that a seasonal change is in full swing in the mountains of New Hampshire, with warm daytime temperatures but very cold nights.
Simon Letellier-Julien and Promise Espejo, both of Boucherville, QC Canada
On the evening of July 15, 2025, two hikers became stranded on steep ledges on the Huntington Ravine Trail on Mt. Washington. Technical rescue personnel from AVSAR, MRS, and NH Fish and Game reached the hikers at 9:40 p.m., assisted them with ropes and climbing harnesses, and brought everyone safely to the Mt. Washington Auto Road by 10:47 p.m. The pair had read a trail description beforehand but underestimated the difficulty of the terrain.
Lesson
Hikers are reminded to heed warnings as they are there for a reason.
On the afternoon of July 2, 2025, Lukas Lamb Wotton, 31, free-fell approximately 60 feet while rock climbing in the Pinnacle Buttress area of Huntington Ravine on Mt. Washington, sustaining multiple potentially life-threatening injuries. Bystander hikers alerted nearby climbers who provided first aid, and a NH Army National Guard Blackhawk helicopter hoisted Wotton from the ravine shortly after 3:00 p.m. He was flown to Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center in Lebanon, NH, arriving alive.
Ravikumar Patel, 35, slipped and fell while descending the Tuckerman Ravine Trail approximately 0.4 miles above Hermit Lake on June 23, 2025, sustaining a head injury. An AMC first responder from Hermit Lake assessed him and assisted him back to the hut, where he awaited a Conservation Officer. Patel was transported down to Pinkham Notch Visitor Center via ATV and released to family for further medical care.
On April 5, 2025, William Tessier, 29, slipped on icy conditions and slid off the Jewell Trail near Mt. Clay while descending Mt. Washington with four companions, striking an object and suffering leg, shoulder, and hypothermia injuries. Rescuers from AVSAR, PEMI SAR, MRS, and Cog Railway personnel reached him at 7:24 p.m. after being transported partway up the mountain by train. He was carried in a litter to the Cog Railway and transported to Littleton Regional Healthcare.
On March 7, 2024, Joabe Barbosa went off trail into Ammonoosuc Ravine on Mount Washington, fell and struck his head and face, lost a sneaker, and became hypothermic at approximately 3,600 feet elevation. He called 911 and provided GPS coordinates; Conservation Officers and an Androscoggin Valley Search and Rescue EMT located him at 10:29 p.m. He was equipped with boots, warm gear, and a headlamp before being escorted out, and was subsequently transported to Littleton Regional Health Care.
Off trailInadequate tractionInadequate clothingNo headlamp
·Mount Washington·Ammonoosuc Ravine (off-trail, west of Westside Trail)
RescueFall
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.
Lesson
Fish and Game pointedly criticized the decision-making of an inexperienced solo hiker pushing into dangerous off-trail winter terrain.
64-year-old male from Methuen, MA, hiking alone with his dog
Michael Harvey, 64, of Methuen, MA, fell while descending Mt. Washington on the Tuckerman Ravine Trail after stepping on an unstable rock, sustaining non-life-threatening injuries. A fellow hiker called 911, and AMC rescuers and Conservation Officers responded, providing medical aid and assisting Harvey out via ATV on the Sherburne Ski Trail. Harvey was assessed at Pinkham Notch and chose to self-transport to the hospital.
On August 1, 2023, Aron Israel, 47, rode the Mt. Washington Auto Road to the summit and attempted to hike down alone via the Tuckerman Ravine Trail, where he fell and injured his ankle. He had no food, water, or warm clothing, and the summit temperature was 37°F with wind chills of 28°F and gusts up to 54 mph. AVSAR volunteers and SOLO students responded, packaged Israel in a litter, carried him to the summit, and he was transported by ambulance to Androscoggin Valley Hospital.
Around 1:30 p.m. Friday July 23, 2021, Hughes slipped and fell while descending stone steps on the Lion Head Trail. An AMC Hermit Lake caretaker provided first aid and splinted her leg; she was helped down, taken out by ATV to Pinkham Notch by 5:45 p.m., and transported to Androscoggin Valley Hospital.
Around 4 p.m. Sunday March 22, 2020, Furness slipped while descending alongside the Cog Railway tracks roughly two miles up from the Cog Base Station and fell about 200 feet toward Burt Ravine, striking rocks. Per NHFG, 'it was these rocks that ultimately saved her from plunging into the ravine, a fall that would have likely proven fatal.' Her companion called for help and kept her warm with a space blanket; she was relayed down by the Cog train and ambulance to Littleton Regional Hospital around 11 p.m.
Michael Hery, 15, sustained a leg injury after a fall on the Ammonoosuc Ravine Trail on Mt. Washington on June 25, 2012. He was hiking down with his father and a friend after spending the night at Lakes of the Clouds Hut. A 16-member AMC crew, Mt. Washington State Park staff, and NH Fish and Game conservation officers carried him in a litter approximately 1.5 miles to the summit, where he was transported to Memorial Hospital in North Conway.
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