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.
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.
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.
·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.
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.
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.
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.
·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·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.
Inadequate clothing
·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.
SoloNovice in winter terrain
·Mount Washington·Lion Head Trail (~2.5 miles from Pinkham Notch Visitor Center)
FatalityMedical
Rolf Diamon, 66, of Windham, Maine
Diamon was ascending the Lion Head Trail with his son on the morning of September 16, 2017, when he became ill and collapsed. His son and other hikers performed CPR, and a National Guard Black Hawk hoisted him off the mountain, but he died despite resuscitation efforts.
·Mount Adams·Star Lake Trail (between Mount Madison and Mount Adams), Northern Presidential Range
FatalityExposure
Kate Matrosova, 32, of New York City (experienced mountaineer)
Matrosova began a solo winter traverse of the Northern Presidentials before dawn on February 15, 2015. The Mount Washington Observatory forecast called for a high of -20°F with winds rising to 80-100 mph (gusts to 125 mph) and wind chills as low as -75°F. She activated a personal locator beacon that afternoon; her body was found the next day near Star Lake. Death was attributed to exposure.
Lesson
Mike Cherim of Androscoggin Valley SAR's Above Treeline Winter Team told Northeast Explorer he believed Matrosova 'did everything right — except for being out there,' adding 'One twisted ankle and we're all screwed.' SAR experts identified the fatal flaw as her decision to proceed despite the forecast of an approaching storm.
Gregory Larson, 63, collapsed of cardiac arrest near the summit of Mount Jefferson on the Caps Ridge Trail on August 29, 2014 while hiking with the Denmark Mountain Hikers group. Companions — many trained in wilderness first aid — performed CPR for about two and a half hours. A National Guard helicopter hoisted him out, but he died during the rescue effort.
·No specific peak·Ammonoosuc Ravine Trail
FatalityMedical
69-year-old male physician from Kennebunkport, ME
Dr. Robert Fernandez, 69, collapsed and died while descending the Ammonoosuc Ravine Trail alone on the evening of October 12, 2013, around 9:30 p.m. Two other hikers who had joined him performed CPR and called 911, but resuscitation efforts by EMS and a paramedic were unsuccessful. His body was carried out to the parking area by responding agencies.
Solo
·No specific peak·Ripley Falls Trail
FatalityMedical
60-year-old male from South Dennis, Massachusetts (James Byrne)
A 60-year-old Massachusetts man, later identified as James Byrne, became unresponsive approximately one-half mile up the Ripley Falls Trail in Hart's Location on October 12, 2013. CPR was attempted by his companion and volunteers but was unsuccessful. Rescuers carried him out by litter and he was pronounced dead; exact cause of death was not determined.
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.
Richard Gabrielle, 64, was ascending Great Gully in King Ravine on January 26, 2013 when he lost his footing near the top. Per New Hampshire Fish and Game, 'Gabrielle travelled over 1,500 feet and dropped vertically over 950 feet before coming to rest' down the ravine's 67-degree slope. He was wearing crampons and a helmet and using an ice axe, but was not roped. As the last climber in line, his fall was unwitnessed.
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.
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