The pair were unprepared for hiking in winter conditions: no sleeping bags, matches, phones, or any way of calling for help. They spent a brutal night on the mountain, both men succumbing to hypothermia before rescuers using a helicopter found them the next day. Osborne lost part of his right leg; Frederickson lost his life.

Osborne’s is but one of the many unforgiving lessons the White Mountains deliver on a regular basis to any hiker who underestimates its harsh and unpredictable conditions: In an eerie echo of the tragedy 16 years ago, on Thursday, another winter hiker suffered severe hypothermia and had to be rescued by helicopter from the very same mountain after becoming trapped overnight by deep snow and freezing conditions.

“People underestimate just how unforgiving the White Mountains can be,” said Ty Gagne, an avid hiker and author of three books about trouble in the White Mountains, including Osborne’s case. “I think there’s a certain amount of complacency that can happen because they’re four to six thousand feet.”

There have been more than 60 search-and-rescue efforts in the Whites just since June, including one in November in which two siblings had become hypothermic while hiking on the Lincoln Brook Trail. And, in the last five years alone, at least 20 more people have died in the White Mountains.

New Hampshire usually averages more than 100 hiker rescues a year, roughly half of them in the Whites, according to a New England-based hiking podcast group that tallied search-and -escue information from the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department.

With its easy access and proximity to large urban centers, the Whites have long been a destination for millions of hikers annually. The range boasts panoramic vistas, pristine lakes, and lush forests, plus the highest peak in the Northeast: Mount Washington, which stands at nearly 6,300 feet.

But the allure can also bring danger.

Climbers can easily get injured in the steep, uneven terrain. Since 2019, more than 250 hikers in New Hampshire have been rescued with lower leg injuries. About 40 succumbed to fatigue. Nearly 150 panicked or got lost.

“The mountains don’t care. They don’t discriminate,” said Gagne. “It doesn’t matter if you’re coming there with a young family, or if you’ve climbed 14,000 footers out west … the mountains aren’t going to relent. It can be a really unpredictable, unforgiving environment.”

As the winter weather descends on New England, the danger can compound.

“The clock is on, the second you’re immobile. Hypothermia sets in very quickly” said Mike McLaughlin, an experienced hiker and host of the Sounds Like a Search and Rescue podcast. “If you feel like you’re in a situation where you can’t get out, call for a rescue immediately.”

Franconia Ridge consistently requires the most rescues, with 68 in the past five years, data show. Mount Washington and Mount Chocorua were not far behind, with 60 and 42 rescues, respectively. All three are in the White Mountains.

Most rescue operations aren’t swift or easy, officials caution.

People “think you’re going to swoop in with a helicopter and pick them up. That’s not the way it works. It’s going to take three to four hours,” said Kevin Jordan, chief of law enforcement for New Hampshire Fish and Game.

Jordan leads a team of more than 40 search-and-rescue officers across six districts in New Hampshire. The group completed nearly 2,000 missions between 2009 and 2019, according to a report from the department.

In some cases, Jordan said, rescues had to be called off because weather conditions were too hazardous. Two of his officers are out with injuries for December.

The New Hampshire Fish and Game Department, which carries out most hiker rescues, recommends packing the following essential items for winter hiking: a map, compass, headlamp, fire starter, first aid kit, whistle, knife, warm clothing, extra food and water, and rain jackets and pants.

They also run the Hike Safe program, where hikers can buy a card that covers the cost of search-and-rescue operations in emergencies. The website also has additional safety tips.

Osborne and other rescued hikers say the work that Fish and Game does is crucial.

“They just have an incredibly important role for the protection of people,” said Osborne. Without rescuers, “plenty of people wouldn’t be here.”

Neena Hagen can be reached at neena.hagen@globe.com.

The New Hampshire Lottery offers several draw games for those aiming to win big. Here’s a look at Sunday, Dec. 22, 2024 results for each game:

Winning Lucky For Life numbers from Dec. 22 drawing

04-07-37-43-47, Lucky Ball: 08

Check Lucky For Life payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Pick 3 numbers from Dec. 22 drawing

Day: 3-6-9

Evening: 5-5-9

Check Pick 3 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Pick 4 numbers from Dec. 22 drawing

Day: 2-6-0-7

Evening: 4-8-4-2

Check Pick 4 payouts and previous drawings here.

Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results

When are the New Hampshire Lottery drawings held?

• Powerball: 10:59 p.m. Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday.
• Pick 3, 4: 1:10 p.m. and 6:55 p.m. daily.
• Mega Millions: 11:00 p.m. Tuesday and Friday.
• Megabucks Plus: 7:59 p.m. Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.
• Lucky for Life: 10:38 p.m. daily.
• Gimme 5: 6:55 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Winning lottery numbers are sponsored by Jackpocket, the official digital lottery courier of the USA TODAY Network.

Where can you buy lottery tickets?

Tickets can be purchased in person at gas stations, convenience stores and grocery stores. Some airport terminals may also sell lottery tickets.

You can also order tickets online through Jackpocket, the official digital lottery courier of the USA TODAY Network, in these U.S. states and territories: Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Idaho, Maine, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Puerto Rico, Texas, Washington, D.C., and West Virginia. The Jackpocket app allows you to pick your lottery game and numbers, place your order, see your ticket and collect your winnings all using your phone or home computer.

Jackpocket is the official digital lottery courier of the USA TODAY Network. Gannett may earn revenue for audience referrals to Jackpocket services. GAMBLING PROBLEM? CALL 1-800-GAMBLER, Call 877-8-HOPENY/text HOPENY (467369) (NY). 18+ (19+ in NE, 21+ in AZ). Physically present where Jackpocket operates. Jackpocket is not affiliated with any State Lottery. Eligibility Restrictions apply. Void where prohibited. Terms: jackpocket.com/tos.

This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a New Hampshire managing editor. You can send feedback using this form.

But now, just days away, it looks like it will be white.

After the coldest weekend of the year — there were 20 below-zero wind chill temperatures on Sunday morning in the North Country, there will be a bit of a warm-up into the 20s on Monday with sunny skies and a light breeze.

Overnight, snow is expected sometime after 8 or 9 p.m. in Concord and the capital region, 10 p.m. on the Seacoast, and after 2 a.m. Tuesday in Nashua and Hillsborough, and Rockingham county communities, with temperatures in the teens. About an inch of snow is expected Monday evening.

Snow is expected to continue Tuesday through the early afternoon.

Forecasters warned of possible driving issues on Monday night and Tuesday morning.

“A light snowfall is likely on Monday night into early Tuesday, bringing slick travel conditions,” the NWS hazardous weather outlook alert stated.

Accumulations will be light — no more than 2 inches in the central and southern parts of the state.

The sun returns on Tuesday afternoon, but the evening temperatures will still be chilly in the teens.

Christmas Day will be sunny, with highs in the lower 30s during the day and in the teens overnight.

Expect similar weather on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday.

The most up-to-date weather is available on every Patch.com site in the United States. This includes the 14 New Hampshire Patch news and community websites for Amherst, Bedford, Concord, Exeter, Hampton, Londonderry, Manchester, Merrimack, Milford, Nashua, North Hampton, Portsmouth, Salem, Windham, and Across NH. Patch posts local weather reports for New Hampshire every Sunday and Wednesday and publishes alerts as needed.

Do you have a news tip? Please email it to tony.schinella@patch.com. View videos on Tony Schinella’s YouTube.com channel or Rumble.com channel. Follow the NH politics Twitter account @NHPatchPolitics for all our campaign coverage.