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.
Wood drove to Lafayette Campground in Lincoln to camp and hike the weekend of April 17, 2026, starting out April 18 in warm, clear weather; he was unprepared for the 3-5 inches of snow that fell April 19-20. After family had no contact for two days, they reported him overdue April 21, and officers located him deceased 5.5 miles from his vehicle on a remote section of the Kinsman Pond Trail at 7:41 p.m.
Lesson
New Hampshire Fish and Game reminds hikers that it is still winter in the mountains with deep snow, precipitation, and freezing temperatures.
Perrault collapsed while hiking alone on the Valley Way Trail in Low and Burbanks Grant; bystanders found him unresponsive, called 911, and began CPR. An Army National Guard Black Hawk picked him up around 3:15 p.m. and flew him to a waiting ambulance, but he died.
Huyler hiked toward the middle Cannon Ball via the Coppermine Brook Valley to check a ski glade before ski season; he told his wife at about 4 p.m. he was heading out, then did not return. His body was found just before 1 a.m. at about 2,800 feet by a steep iced-over slide, where he had suffered a significant fall in icy terrain; he was wearing micro-spikes and was well-equipped.
Lesson
Winter conditions have arrived in the mountains, and hikers are encouraged to be prepared by packing the ten essential items including map, compass, warm clothing, extra food and water, headlamp, fire starter, first aid kit, whistle, rain/wind jackets and pants, and a knife.
On October 19, 2024, a 58-year-old hiker from Montreal, QC suffered a fatal medical emergency on the Piper Trail on Mt. Chocorua, approximately 2.0 miles from the trailhead. Family members and passing hikers with medical experience assisted him, and CPR was performed for over an hour, but the efforts were unsuccessful.
72-year-old male from Virginia (name withheld pending notification)
A hiker found the man's body on the Gulfside Trail near the West Side Trail junction, about a half-mile below the summit. Fish and Game believes he rode the Cog to the summit on August 21 and then tried to hike down; he was dressed in jeans, a navy blue raincoat, and brown hiking boots, and was not prepared for the conditions. Death attributed to likely environmental exposure pending autopsy.
Lesson
Fish and Game noted he was not prepared for the cold, wet, windy conditions at higher summits.
Inadequate clothing
·Kinsman Ridge (between North and South Peaks)·Kinsman Ridge Trail
FatalityMedical
52-year-old male from Topsfield, MA
On August 6, 2024, a 52-year-old male hiker suffered a medical emergency on the Kinsman Ridge Trail between the North and South Peaks of Kinsman Mountain, approximately 4 miles from the nearest trailhead. Family members and Good Samaritan hikers began life-saving measures until NH Army National Guard Blackhawk medics arrived and transported him to a waiting ambulance. The hiker succumbed to his medical emergency.
·No specific peak
Body recoveryFall
William Donovan, male hiker from Massachusetts
William Donovan, a Massachusetts hiker, went missing on April 16, 2024 in the area between Mt. Monroe and Mt. Eisenhower. His body was recovered from the Dry River on May 13, 2024, pinned beneath a large boulder approximately 2.5 miles from Route 302. Authorities believe he may have been forced off the ridge by high winds or adverse weather conditions.
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 Guyot·Pemigewasset Wilderness (between Bond and Guyot)
Body recoveryExposure
Solo male hiker (name not stated in release)
Acquaintances alerted 911 after a phone call with the solo hiker, who was between Mount Bond and Mount Guyot and 'very cold' in heavy winds, single-digit temperatures, and snow. National Guard flights could not reach the area due to low clouds; a Mountain Rescue Service team reached him at 5 p.m. January 17 but he was deceased, and a multi-team ground/air recovery followed on January 18.
Lesson
Proper attire including traction devices and snowshoes are recommended for winter conditions in New Hampshire's mountains; hikers are encouraged to visit hikesafe.com for safe hiking tips and essential gear lists.
Jason Apreku, 21, of Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania, collapsed from an unknown medical emergency while hiking with friends on the Osgood Trail toward Mt. Madison on August 11, 2023 at approximately 4:30 p.m. CPR and AED efforts were performed for multiple hours by friends, AMC personnel, and rescue teams, and a National Guard helicopter was unable to reach him due to extreme wind gusts up to 90 mph and low cloud cover. Apreku was pronounced dead on scene and his body was carried to Madison Spring Hut overnight, then airlifted off the mountain the morning of August 12.
·Black Cap
FatalityMedical
59-year-old male hiker
On July 2, 2023, a 59-year-old hiker suffered a fatal medical emergency near the summit of Black Cap while hiking with family. Family members attempted life-saving measures but he passed away on scene. Rescuers carried him out to the trailhead, approximately one mile, arriving around 9:30 p.m.
·No specific peak·Little East Pond Trail
FatalityMedical
59-year-old male hiker from Lancaster, NH (Donald Frenette)
On June 4, 2023, a 59-year-old male hiker collapsed on the Little East Pond Trail in Livermore approximately 45 minutes after departing the trailhead. His hiking partner called 911 and began life-saving measures; a US Forest Service Backcountry Forest Manager also assisted. Despite resuscitation efforts by multiple responding agencies, the hiker was pronounced dead at the scene and carried out 1.5 miles to the trailhead.
Guopeng 'Tony' Li, 28, of Salem, NH (originally from Hebei Province, China)
Li set out alone around 11 a.m. on Christmas Eve on the 8.6-mile Bridle Path/Falling Waters loop in near-zero temperatures. A family member in China tracking his phone saw it die at 6:15 p.m. with him lost off-trail south of Mount Lincoln. His body was found around 6:45 a.m. December 25 about a half-mile off the Falling Waters Trail; family described him as inexperienced.
Joseph V. 'Eggy' Eggleston, 53, of Randolph, NH (a Mount Washington Cog Railway engineer)
Eggleston and his wife — longtime NH residents and frequent hikers wearing traction devices on icy conditions — had stopped to photograph the Crawford Notch area at the Mt. Willard summit around 10:30 a.m. when he fell over a steep cliff. His wife heard him yell and saw him go over the edge; Mountain Rescue Service rappelled to locate his body about 300 feet below the summit around 2:30 p.m.
Sotelo was dropped off the morning of November 20 for a solo hike of Lafayette, Haystack, and Flume; per Pemigewasset Valley SAR, temperatures along the ridge were about zero degrees with 30-40 mph winds. When she did not return, a multi-day search ensued; searchers found her tracks and belongings at the headwaters of Lafayette Brook on November 22, and her body was recovered November 23, about three-quarters of a mile off the trail. Officials said she likely died of exposure. Her parents told WMUR she was an experienced summer hiker but had little winter experience.
SoloInadequate clothingNovice in winter terrain
·Mount Clay·Gulfside Trail
FatalityHypothermia
Xi Chen, 53, of Andover, MA
Attempting a solo Presidential Traverse on Saturday June 18, 2022, Chen texted his wife that he was cold and wet, could not continue, and felt he would die without rescue. Per NHFG, 'rescuers endured driving rain, blowing snow, and sustained 50-60 mph winds with gusts over 80 mph' to reach him on the Gulfside Trail near Mt. Clay at 10:38 p.m., where he was unresponsive and severely hypothermic. He was carried to the summit and driven down but could not be revived, and was pronounced dead at Androscoggin Valley Hospital. His wife told NBC Boston he was an experienced hiker who had completed 19 of NH's 4,000-footers and was working on his 20th: 'He's not a quitter, that probably actually got him into trouble this time.'
Lesson
NHFG said the dangerous forecast was well-publicized but 'was not heeded by many hikers,' and that in such conditions 'it is better to descend and get out of the wind and cold instead of pushing on until it is too late.'
Around 12:30 p.m. Saturday July 24, 2021, a 911 call reported an unconscious, non-breathing hiker on the Signal Ridge Trail about 4 miles from the trailhead. He had collapsed while hiking with a female companion; bystanders performed CPR but he was pronounced dead by EMS. Due to the remote, steep terrain his body did not reach the trailhead until 9:30 p.m.
·No specific peak·Wild River Trail / Spruce Brook Tent site
Body recoveryOther
Edward Murphy, 50, of Sandown, NH
Murphy was on a multi-day hike in the Wild River Wilderness due to finish Wednesday May 26, 2021. When overdue, a search began Thursday May 27 and his body was found around 7:30 p.m. that day at the Spruce Brook Tent site. NHFG said he was killed when a tree to which he had attached his sleeping hammock fell and struck him, stating 'all indications point to this being a tragic accident.' Unusual non-locomotion fatality at a backcountry campsite.
Sanford set out on an up-and-back hike via the Glencliff Trail on Sunday March 14, 2021. After he failed to return, a search was launched; per NHFG, officers 'experienced blizzard conditions with snow, heavy wind gusts and below freezing temperatures right from the trailhead.' The ground team observed foot tracks in fresh snow heading down Gorge Brook from the summit and reached his body at about 3:40 p.m. Monday March 15; he was pronounced dead at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center.
Lesson
NHFG cited the blizzard conditions as a major contributing factor.
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
·No specific peak·Arethusa Falls Trail
FatalityFall
Adult man (name not released by NHFG)
Shortly before 7 p.m. Saturday September 26, 2020, NHFG was notified that a hiker had fallen at Arethusa Falls in Crawford Notch. He had gone ahead of his two friends to the top of the falls; when they arrived they found his body. Rescuers carried him out, reaching the trailhead just before 11 p.m. This was the third hiking-related death in the White Mountains in six days.
Around 4 p.m. Sunday September 20, 2020, Kessel was climbing the Moby Grape route on Cannon Cliff in Franconia Notch when a rock 'the size of a refrigerator' dislodged, severed his rope, and knocked him roughly 150 feet down the cliff into spruce trees. Other climbers located his body around 5:30 p.m.; it was recovered the next morning.
William Whittenaur, 69, of Lancaster, New Hampshire
Whittenaur suffered a medical emergency while ascending the Blue Trail toward Mount Cabot on June 14, 2019. His companion performed CPR for an extended period before running over a mile to reach a phone; despite the response by Gorham Ambulance, Shelburne firefighters, and conservation officers (who relayed a litter, oxygen, and an AED), Whittenaur did not survive.
·Mount Washington·Tuckerman Ravine Trail (above the junction with Lion Head Trail)
FatalityMedical
Sandra Lee, 63, of Mount Tabor, New Jersey
While ascending the Tuckerman Ravine Trail toward the summit on June 13, 2019, Lee showed signs of hypothermia and could no longer move on her own. Per NH Fish and Game, conditions on the summit were 'below freezing with a wind-chill of 12 degrees Fahrenheit, 60 mph sustaining winds while rain and dense fog created ice.' Conservation officers carried her about 0.2 miles to the Auto Road and she was taken by ambulance to Androscoggin Valley Hospital, where she was pronounced dead.
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
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