New Hampshire
Mass. man prepared for N.H. hiking trip, but deep snow resulted in an emergency rescue
An Acton man was rescued after he did not bring snowshoes while hiking between Mount Guyot and South Twin Mountain in Lincoln, New Hampshire, on Friday, the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department said.
At around 8:45 a.m. on Friday, March 21, conservation officers were notified of a hiker in distress off the Twinway Trail between the two mountains, in a remote part of the Pemi Wilderness, Fish and Game said in a statement. The hiker, Gary Sullivan, 52, of Acton, did not have cell service and could not call or text 911 to report that he was lost and was in deep snow.
Sullivan planned a two-day trip and brought with him a tent, a sleeping bag, extra clothes, traction devices, food, water, his 10 essentials and a Hike Safe card, Fish and Game said. But he did not have snowshoes.
“In researching his hike, he had read reports that traction devices were necessary but snowshoes were not needed,” the department stated. “This was true for the majority of his hike until he reached the area of Mount Guyot where he encountered waist-deep snow. He took shelter for the night of March 20 just west of Mount Guyot and started towards Galehead on the morning of March 21.”
After he started his hike, Sullivan lost the trail and was walking through waist-deep snow, the statement continued.
Sullivan was able to set up a shelter but with his phone’s battery running low, he could not get himself back to the trail, the statement read. While he would have been able to access through Gale River Road in Bethlehem, it was a 6-and-a-half-mile hike.
Two conservation officers and two Pemigewasset Valley Search and Rescue volunteers went off from Gale River Road and were flown by the New Hampshire Army National Guard to the Cannon Mountain Ski area at around 1 p.m., Fish and Game said.
By 4 p.m. the National Guard returned to Concord, New Hampshire, as the weather had not improved above 3,000 feet, the statement read. First responders returned with the hiker at 5:20 p.m. He had his gear packed and he was given snowshoes, and at 5:45 p.m., they group started to hike back.
At 10:05 p.m., the team arrived at Gale River Road with Sullivan, Fish and Game said.
The federal government has activated the New Hampshire National Guard’s 157th Air Refueling Wing in connection with the war with Iran.
“I’ve had a briefing myself, a classified briefing, but it’s really important on the messaging on this that we really coordinate with the Pentagon,” Gov. Kelly Ayotte told reporters during a press briefing following Wednesday’s Executive Council meeting.
Ayotte said she was unable to share additional details about the nature of the New Hampshire National Guard’s activity related to the conflict, including how many guard members have been activated or what role they are playing.
“We’re going to respect what messaging comes out of the Pentagon just to make sure that our men and women in uniform are fully protected and that we aren’t providing any information that could be used in a way that would be harmful to them,” Ayotte said.
In a statement Thursday, Ayotte said the unit had been deployed in late February to the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility in support of the operation.
Earlier this week, Pentagon officials confirmed that members of the Vermont National Guard were involved in attacks against Iran over the weekend, though our news partners at Vermont Public were not able to confirm additional details on the nature of the operation.
During the briefing with local reporters, Ayotte also stressed her support for servicemembers and those close to them.
“I have such respect for our men and women in uniform,” Ayotte said. “As you know, I come from a military family, and they have our full support, and we appreciate them and their families, and obviously anyone who is serving right now, and my thoughts and prayers go out to those who have lost someone that they love.”
By PAULA TRACY, InDepthNH.org
CONCORD – While Republican Gov. Kelly Ayotte has said she opposes increasing highway toll rates across the state, the Senate voted Thursday to increase rates for out-of-state license plate holders.
It now goes to the House for consideration.
This would be a $1 increase for those who have out of state plates going through the tolls at Hooksett, Hampton and Bedford for out-of-state plates, a 75 cent hike for those taking Hampton’s Exit 2 and on the Spaulding turnpike at Rochester, and a 50 cent hike for those taking the exit off I-93 to Hooksett.
An analysis in the bill shows that this would increase toll revenue by $53.3 million in fiscal year 2027 and go up each year to generate $81.4 million a year in 2036.
Senate Bill 627 passed on a voice vote with two Republicans, Senators Regina Birdsell of Hampstead and William Gannon of Sandown opposing.
Senator Mark E. McConkey, R-Freedom, moved to take the bill off the table and offered an amendment.
He said the last time there was a systemwide increase to the turnpike toll was 19 years ago.
“I am sure we could all agree the cost of operations…has continued to escalate when revenue is not rising with it,” and he noted that with an enterprise fund, the state can only spend what it takes in.
The state has just completed a 10-year highway plan and there was a $400 million shortfall in projects that could not be paid for under the current income.
McConkey said the measure would not increase tolls for New Hampshire drivers with a state license plate.
“Why don’t we ask our neighbors,” to pay a toll increase. “We are getting the best of all worlds,” by passing the bill, he said, including “protecting our residents” and having resources for improvements to the turnpike system.
Sen. Gannon, R-Sandown, asked McConkey if there are any studies on impacts near the border on businesses.
If implemented, McConkey said the state will be the 27th lowest in per mile cost still. McConkey said the bill would also increase from seven to 14 days the amount of time for those with NH license plates to pay for a toll adding there are other states that also have different rates for out-of-state users.
The Hampton toll cost would go from $2 to $3, while Hooksett and Bedford would rise from $1 to $2 for out-of-state plates.
New Hampshire currently has the lowest rate per mile among states with tolls roads.
The governor said she does not support a toll increase.
“We are not going to put a burden on drivers for a toll increase,” Ayotte said. “Families are struggling.”
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