Mass. man rescued from NH mountain after 'floundering in waist deep snow'

A Massachusetts man was rescued by New Hampshire Fish and Game Friday between Mount Guyot and South Twin Mountain after losing the trail he was on and getting stuck in waist-deep snow without snowshoes.

The man, 52, from Acton, set off for a two-day excursion on Thursday. After sheltering just west of Mount Guyot overnight Thursday, he inadvertently got off Twinway Trail while hiking toward Galehead Friday morning. He texted 911 saying that his phone was going to die and “that he had lost the trail and was in deep snow without snowshoes,” NH Fish and Game officials said. 

Conservation Officers and volunteers from the Pemi Valley Search and Rescue Team started a 6.5 mile hike in to the man from Gale River Road in Bethlehem. The NH Army National Guard tried accessing the hiker using a plane, though the weather prevented them from reaching him. 

The rescuers found him a short distance south of Twinway Trail at 5:20 p.m., and they all hiked back to Gale River Road, arriving at 10:05 pm. 

“[The hiker] was extremely grateful for the assistance provided and for the attempt by the NH Army National Guard,” NH Fish and Game said. 

They said that the man was prepared with a tent, sleeping bag, extra clothing, food water, traction devices, the ten essentials, and a Hike Safe card, an NH Fish and Game-issued card that protects holders from having to pay for rescue costs if they need to be rescued. 

“The only item he lacked that would have proven helpful were a pair of snowshoes,” the department said.