Two unprepared hikers from New Jersey had to be rescued from the White Mountains overnight. The New Hampshire Fish and Game Department was notified of a group of hikers at the summit of Mount Lafayette in Franconia who were suffering from hypothermia in cold, wet, and rainy conditions.
Rescue Efforts
The hikers said they had no visibility, no lights, and no warm clothing. A call was made to the Appalachian Mountain Club and Greenleaf Hut Crew on Mount Lafayette to have two crew members hike up and assist. The AMC crew hiked up toward the summit of Mount Lafayette and found the hikers less than a quarter mile below the summit.
One hiker, 19-year-old Dmytro Grechko, was unresponsive and suffering from severe hypothermia. A second hiker, 19-year-old Jason Fisher, was cold and wet, but still alert and also suffering from hypothermia. The AMC crew began warming the hikers up by providing shelter and dry clothing.
Due to the condition of the hikers, the Pemigewasset Valley Search and Rescue Team and the Lakes Region Search and Rescue Team were called in to assist in carrying the unresponsive hiker from the summit to the Greenleaf Hut. While responding to the first call, a second rescue call came in on Mount Lafayette for another group of hikers who were wet, cold, and also suffering from hypothermia.
Rescuers arrived at Grechko’s location around 1:10 a.m. on Saturday. He was carried down to the Greenleaf Hut, arriving there at 2:55 am. Once at the hut, rescuers were able to get shelter from the weather and warm Grechko. Unfortunately, while carrying him in the inclement weather, a volunteer rescuer was severely injured and needed to be helped back to the trailhead.
Over the next couple of hours, rescuers treated the group of hikers for hypothermia and cold-related injuries. While at the Greenleaf Hut, Grechko’s condition began improving, and he regained consciousness. Once the group was warm and dry, the rescuers assisted Grechko down the Old Bridle Path, arriving at the trailhead at 7:55 a.m. Grechko was transported from the trailhead by the ambulance to Littleton Regional Hospital for further medical treatment.
Original reporting: NBC10 Boston — read the source article.
