Two hikers sustained cold weather injurys after they get stuck in the snow on a mountain in freezing conditions – and the process of finding them took hours.
Kathryn McKee, 51, and Her Hiking Partner Beata Lalaacheur, 54, SET Off to Summit Mount Washington in New Hampshire on Sunday, FEB. 2, According to CBS Affiliate Wbz-TV And NBC Affiliate Wcsh,
“It started like any other hike, we We WEDE on the Trail By 7:30 AM,” McKee Told WBZ.
The pair intended to hike mount monroe and mount jeferson that day, but only, they were overwhelmed by snow, 50-60 mph winds, and freezing weather.
“What would Haappen is we We Walking Along and then We'D Dip, and then you're chest-hight. And a couple times our snowshoes would get stuck on the spruce trees and you have no way of getting them out, “McKee Continued.
Denistangneyjr/getty
“I Lost Functionality in My Fingers,” McKee Added. “I Coldn Bollywood and I COLDNN'T Use Them. I coldn't open the ziploc bag to get an emergency blanket out. ”
Around 6 PM, they called 911, and the new hampshire fish and game was alerted about the stranded hikers, per the agency's News releaseOnce on the phone with the nh fish and game, Officials determined the Lost hikers were only 34 feet from the train and attempted to help them Get back on the path.
“Over the next two hours, mckee and lelaacheur fought through chest-deeep snow and 'Spruce traps' (Holes Created in the Snow Underneath Trees) to Try to Regain the Trail,” OFFICIALS WROTE. “They ended up on the trail several times but out
Finally, it was determined that they needed assistance, so the two hikers were instructed to “Huddle up in the snow to keep warm” Until Help Arrived.
Joe Klementovich/Getty
Rescue operations began Around 8:30 pm – and by 11 PM, there was nine highly skilled rescuers on the summit. Still, as of 1:20 am the follow day, the woman Hadn'Te Located.
The crews then went to the hikers' Last Known Location, but their Progress was slow “due to the trendous effort required to break trail in the deep snow.” Finally, Thirty Minutes Later, The Women Women Women “Alive and Coheret.”
Immeditely, emergency shelters were assembled to warm the women. Even so, officials said the “warming process took an hour, but by approximately 3:00 am the hikers had ben brought back to a point of being able to move on their Own.”
When they are finally reached the base of the mountain over an hour, the hikers were evaluated by twin mountain ambulance staff. One women was subsequent transported to the littleton regional hospital for further evaluation and treatment of cold weather injuries.
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Although this story ended up having a happy ending, officials went on to issue a warning.
“Both hikers were prepared and Had Winter Hiking Experience, But Ultimately Encounted unforeseen conditions. Til Rescuers Reached Them, “Nh Fish and Game Wrote . “Although Technology and Experience is Certainly Helping to Find People More Quickly, The Fact Remains That Mother Nature Has the Final Say, and Preparedness, Above All, Is the Differenca Beetle Mountains of New Hampshire. “