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.
The hiker injured his leg after slipping on a wet section of the Old Bridle Path. Fish and Game and Pemi Valley Search and Rescue (over 20 rescuers) carried him by litter to the trailhead at 1:25 a.m. Sunday.
Lesson
NH Fish and Game urges hikers to be prepared and use caution, noting that days are getting shorter and snow and ice can be encountered at any time; having a light source, proper footwear, and clothing is a must, and packing the 10 Essentials even on a day hike is imperative.
Inadequate traction
·No specific peak·Basin Cascade Trail
RescueFall
53-year-old woman from Belmont, MA
On October 13, 2025, Ye Guo, 53, of Belmont, MA, slipped and fell while hiking down the Basin Cascade Trail in Lincoln, injuring her leg and rendering her unable to walk. Volunteers from PEMI Valley Search and Rescue and Conservation Officers carried her out via litter to a waiting ambulance. She was transported to Littleton Hospital for further treatment.
Lesson
Fish and Game reminded hikers to bring the ten essential items to keep themselves dry and warm, including warm clothing, extra food and water, headlamp, fire starter, first aid kit, whistle, rain/wind jacket and pants, knife, map, and compass.
Christianson fell and suffered a leg injury about 2.2 miles from the trailhead while hiking the Welch-Dickey Loop with her husband. Rescuers carried her by litter to the trailhead, and she was transported to Littleton Regional Hospital.
Lesson
Fish and Game reminded hikers to bring the ten essential items: warm clothing, extra food and water, headlamp, fire starter, first aid kit, whistle, rain/wind jackets and pants, knife, map and compass.
On September 17, 2025, Stephen McGovern, 71, of West Warwick, RI, slipped and sustained a head injury while hiking the Sugarloaf Trail in Bethlehem with friends. Two Pemi Valley Search and Rescue volunteers who happened to be on the same trail located and treated McGovern and assisted him down the trail. He was subsequently transported by his hiking partners to Memorial Hospital in North Conway for further treatment.
Lesson
Fish and Game reminded hikers to bring the ten essential items: warm clothing, extra food and water, headlamp, fire starter, first aid kit, whistle, rain/wind jackets and pants, knife, map and compass.
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.
On September 7, 2025, Victor Pascarelli slipped on wet soil while descending the Brooks Fisher Trail on Mt. Webster, sustaining a lower leg injury approximately 0.8 miles from the trailhead. He was treated on scene and carried out by litter, then transported to Speare Memorial Hospital in Plymouth.
·No specific peak·Wildcat River Trail
RescueFall
72-year-old female hiker from Dripping Springs, TX
Leigh Jandle, 72, suffered a lower leg injury while descending the Carter-Moriah Trail and Wildcat River Trail toward a campsite near Carter Notch Hut on Tuesday evening. Her sons assisted her to the Carter Notch bunkhouse after an AMC employee splinted the injury, but she could not bear weight and required evacuation. Rescue crews from NHFG, AVSAR, LRSAR, and AMC carried her 2.3 miles down the 19 Mile Brook Trail, reaching the trailhead at 11:30 p.m., and she was transported to Androscoggin Valley Hospital in Berlin.
Dennis Boyce, of Bermuda Run, NC, Appalachian Trail thru-hiker; a second AT thru-hiker also sustained a serious but non-life-threatening injury
On August 25, 2025, Dennis Boyce, an AT thru-hiker, slipped and fell near the summit of North Kinsman on the Kinsman Ridge Trail and was unable to hike out under his own power. Conservation Officers and Pemi Valley Search and Rescue volunteers carried him out to Lafayette Place Campground, where he was transported by ambulance to Littleton Regional Hospital with serious but non-life-threatening injuries. A second AT thru-hiker was also found with a serious but non-life-threatening injury during the operation and similarly transported to Littleton Regional Hospital.
Lesson
NH Fish and Game urges hikers to be prepared and to use caution while hiking, noting that packing the 10 Essentials even on a day hike is imperative.
·No specific peak·Arethusa Falls Trail
RescueFall
46-year-old female hiker from Quincy, MA
Kelly Graeber, 46, injured her ankle while returning from Arethusa Falls on the Arethusa Falls Trail on August 23, 2025. With no cell service in the area, a group member hiked out to call 911. Rescuers met her nearly a mile from the trailhead, splinted her ankle, and ultimately carried her out in a litter; she was transported to Memorial Hospital in North Conway.
On August 23, 2025, Florence Hunter, 22, slipped while descending Mt. Moriah and suffered a lower-leg injury approximately 4 miles from the trailhead. NH Fish and Game Conservation Officers and volunteers from AVSAR and LRSAR carried her out via litter over roughly 2 miles before transferring her to an ATV for the remaining distance. Hunter refused hospital transport upon reaching the parking lot at 1:00 a.m. on August 24.
·No specific peak·Castle Trail
RescueFall
David Smith, 59, from East Wallingford, VT
On August 6, 2025, David Smith, 59, suffered a serious leg injury on the Castle Trail approximately 4.2 miles from Route 2. A trail runner discovered him and notified NH Fish and Game. Due to the difficult terrain, distance, and rescuer resource constraints, the Army National Guard was called in and successfully extracted Smith by helicopter to Gorham Airport, where he was transported to Androscoggin Valley Hospital.
·No specific peak·19 Mile Brook Trail
RescueFall
66-year-old woman from Whiting, NJ
Sandra Staskus, 66, suffered a chest injury the night before after tripping and falling between the bunkrooms and the hut at Carter Notch Hut. The injury worsened overnight and she was unable to hike out on her own. After assessment by EMTs, she was able to walk out with assistance, arriving at the trailhead at 4:37 p.m.
·No specific peak·Arethusa Trail
RescueFall
Heather Vinton, 49, of Hanson, Massachusetts
On August 1, 2025, Heather Vinton, 49, stumbled and fell while hiking back to the Arethusa Trailhead, approximately three-quarters of a mile from the trailhead, leaving her unable to hike out under her own power. Conservation Officers and Bartlett Jackson Ambulance Service responded and had her in the ambulance by approximately 3:05 p.m. She was transported to Memorial Hospital for further evaluation.
Martha Keck, 71, fell while descending the Gorge Brook Trail on Mt. Moosilauke after summiting, suffering a serious but non-life-threatening injury. She was located 0.43 miles from the trailhead but could not complete the descent and requested assistance. A rescue crew of 13 Dartmouth College students and one bystander EMT carried her out to the trailhead by 6:30 p.m., where she was transported to Littleton Regional Healthcare.
Lesson
Use caution when enjoying outdoor activities and carry appropriate items to overcome setbacks; your preparation may even help others you encounter who are having problems.
·No specific peak·Crawford Path
RescueFall
65-year-old female hiker from Chesapeake, Virginia, section-hiking the Appalachian Trail
On July 25, 2025, Heather Brewer, 65, slipped and fell forward on the Crawford Path between Mt. Pierce and Mt. Eisenhower, striking her face on her trekking pole and sustaining a vision-impairing facial injury. A Lakes Region Search and Rescue Team member who happened upon her provided first aid and called for help. Brewer was able to hike out under her own power via the Edmonds Path, reaching the trailhead at 1:00 p.m. before being transported to Memorial Hospital in North Conway.
Lesson
This incident highlights the fact that injuries can befall the most prepared, and hikers are reminded to always prepare for the unexpected.
·No specific peak·Lincoln Brook Trail
RescueFall
48-year-old female hiker from Gilbert, South Carolina
On July 25, 2025, Stephanie Latchford, 48, slipped on wet rock during a brook crossing on the Lincoln Brook Trail in the Pemigewasset Wilderness and suffered a lower extremity injury, leaving her unable to walk. Good Samaritans used a hammock as a makeshift litter to carry her to Thirteen Falls tent site and called 911. Conservation Officers and rescue volunteers traveled approximately 8 miles by ATV and on foot to reach her, and she was transported out by UTV and ambulance to Littleton Health.
Lesson
When hiking in remote areas such as the Pemi Wilderness, it is imperative to be prepared for an extended stay in an emergency, as it can take several hours for rescue personnel to reach the patient's location; hikers should bring the ten essential items including warm clothing, extra food and water, headlamp, fire starter, first aid kit, whistle, rain/wind jackets and pants, knife, map, and compass.
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.
Underestimated elevation
·No specific peak·Great Gulf Trail
RescueFall
Katherine Hudson, 30, of Danbury, CT
Katherine Hudson, 30, became exhausted and fell several times on the upper Great Gulf Trail the night of July 5, 2025, suffering minor injuries and ultimately texting 911 reporting cold and fear of hypothermia. Conservation Officers accessed the trail from the top via the Auto Road early July 6, hiked down a slippery rock scree field, located Hudson at her initial 911 text location, and provided warm fluids, food, and clothing. Hudson and officers hiked back out to the Auto Road by 11:30 a.m.
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.
·No specific peak·Cascade Brook Trail
RescueFall
Victoria Reynolds, 53, of Gorham, ME
Victoria Reynolds, 53, suffered a fall and serious injury while hiking the Cascade Brook Trail with family on June 25, 2025. Good Samaritan hikers who were physicians provided initial aid, and a Conservation Officer arrived at 2:35 p.m. Reynolds was carried out on a litter by a large rescue crew and transported to Littleton Regional Healthcare for evaluation.
Lesson
A rescue effort requires a large group of people, with a longer backcountry carryout needing 30 or more rescuers to be conducted safely; rescue in even semi-remote locations takes a long time. Make safe choices and be prepared.
·Middle Moriah Mountain·Rattle River Trail / Appalachian Trail
RescueFall
67-year-old female hiker from London, England
On June 25, 2025, a 67-year-old solo hiker activated a Garmin emergency beacon on the Rattle River Trail near Middle Moriah Mountain after falling and sustaining a significant laceration approximately 4.5 miles from US Route 2. AVSAR volunteers made contact with her about 0.5 miles from the trailhead and assisted her out to meet a waiting ambulance. She was transported to Androscoggin Valley Hospital in Berlin for treatment.
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.
·No specific peak·Garfield Ridge Trail
RescueFall
Jennifer Lucente, 59, of Warwick, RI
On June 20, 2025, Jennifer Lucente slipped on a wet rock slab on a steep section of the Garfield Ridge Trail and sustained a lower-leg injury that left her immobile, approximately 5 miles from the nearest trailhead. NH Conservation Officers and two search-and-rescue teams reached her around 6:25 p.m. and carried her out via the Gale River Trail, arriving at the trailhead around 12:10 a.m. She was transported to Littleton Regional Hospital for evaluation and treatment.
Lesson
Pack the ten essential items (warm clothing, extra food and water, headlamp, fire starter, first aid kit, whistle, rain/wind jacket and pants, knife, map, and compass) so that if an accident occurs in a remote area, you can keep yourself warm and dry while awaiting rescue.
·No specific peak·Twin Brook Trail
RescueFall
75-year-old male hiker from Hewitt, NJ
On June 19, 2025, Douglas Lawrence, 75, slipped on wet moss on a steep section of the Twin Brook Trail approximately 0.5 miles south of Galehead Hut, sustaining a leg injury that left him immobile. AMC hut crew reached him by 10:30 a.m. and Fish and Game Conservation Officers along with Pemigewasset Valley SAR and Lakes Region SAR teams carried him out, reaching the Gale River trailhead at approximately 8:20 p.m. Lawrence was transported to Littleton Regional Hospital for further evaluation and treatment.
Lesson
Pack the ten essential items including warm clothing, extra food and water, a headlamp, fire starter, first aid kit, whistle, rain/wind jackets and pants, knife, map, and compass, as rescue in a remote location can take hours.
·No specific peak·Zealand Trail
RescueFall
51-year-old woman from Arlington, MA
Kechia Davis, 51, fell while crossing a brook on the Zealand Trail, sustaining a leg injury that left her immobile. A good Samaritan texted 911 and alerted AMC personnel at Zealand Hut, who hiked down to assist. NH Conservation Officers and Pemigewasset Valley Search and Rescue Team carried her approximately 1.5 miles back to the trailhead.
Lesson
Even small brooks can be tricky to cross as they are swollen with water; hikers should pack the ten essential items and keep warm and dry when venturing into the wilderness.
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