Waumbek
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I've read several posts lately wondering when forest roads are opening (no time soon), how much snow there is higher up (lots), and whether to take snow shoes (yes). I also just read somewhere that the average snowfall on Mt Washington in April is in the range of 3', in May 12", and the Big Wind of 231 mph caused by the Perfect Storm was in April too (1934). Here's the rest of the story of the hiker who got stranded overnight in Crawford Notch Monday (from the Lowell Sun), another reminder that spring comes slowly to the mountains:
Hiker safe after night on slopes
night on slopes
By ANDREW RAVENSand ROBERT MILLS, Sun Staff
John Jackson didn't panic when he lost the trail he was hiking along Monday, but as darkness set in, he realized he would have to spend an extra night in the chest-deep snows of the White Mountains.
Luckily, the Carlisle resident had most of the equipment he needed to do that, and after getting 12 hours of sleep on a night he hadn't planned to spend in Crawford Notch, he was rescued yesterday morning by crews whose bravery he now admires.
The one thing he wishes he had taken with him? Snowshoes.
Jackson, 31, had planned to take a two-day hike over a trail on Crawford Notch, the middle of three notches that divide New Hampshire's White Mountains. To the west is Franconia
Notch, where Cannon Mountain looms. To the east is Pinkham Notch, where the auto road climbs to the summit of Mount Washington.
He had scouted the trail he was hiking, looking at plenty of maps and reading recent Internet postings from others who had hiked it, but the preparation stopped paying off when the painted blazes that marked the trail disappeared.
From the warmth and safety of his home last night, he said he wasn't sure if the blazes had been covered by snow.
“I'm not sure why I lost the trail,” he said. “Several rescuers said that section of trail is not well-marked.”
Fortunately, Jackson was armed with maps, a compass and a Global Positioning System, so he knew he could eventually use his gear and a nearby stream of water that was draining down the mountain to get to safety.
“I looked at my map and basically knew where I needed to go,” he said. “I followed the drainage down about five miles, but then it started getting dark, so I decided to stay another night so I wouldn't break a leg walking down the creek in the darkness.”
That's when he broke out his tent and winter-rated sleeping bag, and curled up without even cooking dinner.
In the meantime, his brother, Michael Jackson, had reported him missing since Jackson had said he planned to be off the trail by Monday. The rescue crews that set out in darkness to search for his brother found him yesterday morning.
Last night, John Jackson said he was thankful for, and impressed by, the bravery and skill of the rescuers, noting that the trail they traveled in darkness to find him had been difficult even in daylight.
“We're thankful that we succeeded in finding him,” said Capt. Martin Garabedian of New Hampshire Fish & Game. “It's not advisable to hike alone, but Jackson was smart enough to let someone know when and where he was planning to hike, and when he was expected home.”
Jackson escaped without need of medical treatment and was only cold and tired when he was found.
“I was blown away by the rescuers and what those guys are willing to do on such short notice,” he said. “The story here is that those people are there should something like this happen.”
He said the presence of rescuers wouldn't prevent him from taking even more safety precautions next time he hikes. He said the incident will not keep him from hiking again because it's what he loves to do.
“I'm certainly going to think twice about going into the winter environment by myself again,” he said. “Maybe I was overconfident.”
Fish and Game officials make about 170 to 180 mountain rescues a year. They encourage hikers to learn more about safety at www.hikesafe.com.
Hiker safe after night on slopes
night on slopes
By ANDREW RAVENSand ROBERT MILLS, Sun Staff
John Jackson didn't panic when he lost the trail he was hiking along Monday, but as darkness set in, he realized he would have to spend an extra night in the chest-deep snows of the White Mountains.
Luckily, the Carlisle resident had most of the equipment he needed to do that, and after getting 12 hours of sleep on a night he hadn't planned to spend in Crawford Notch, he was rescued yesterday morning by crews whose bravery he now admires.
The one thing he wishes he had taken with him? Snowshoes.
Jackson, 31, had planned to take a two-day hike over a trail on Crawford Notch, the middle of three notches that divide New Hampshire's White Mountains. To the west is Franconia
Notch, where Cannon Mountain looms. To the east is Pinkham Notch, where the auto road climbs to the summit of Mount Washington.
He had scouted the trail he was hiking, looking at plenty of maps and reading recent Internet postings from others who had hiked it, but the preparation stopped paying off when the painted blazes that marked the trail disappeared.
From the warmth and safety of his home last night, he said he wasn't sure if the blazes had been covered by snow.
“I'm not sure why I lost the trail,” he said. “Several rescuers said that section of trail is not well-marked.”
Fortunately, Jackson was armed with maps, a compass and a Global Positioning System, so he knew he could eventually use his gear and a nearby stream of water that was draining down the mountain to get to safety.
“I looked at my map and basically knew where I needed to go,” he said. “I followed the drainage down about five miles, but then it started getting dark, so I decided to stay another night so I wouldn't break a leg walking down the creek in the darkness.”
That's when he broke out his tent and winter-rated sleeping bag, and curled up without even cooking dinner.
In the meantime, his brother, Michael Jackson, had reported him missing since Jackson had said he planned to be off the trail by Monday. The rescue crews that set out in darkness to search for his brother found him yesterday morning.
Last night, John Jackson said he was thankful for, and impressed by, the bravery and skill of the rescuers, noting that the trail they traveled in darkness to find him had been difficult even in daylight.
“We're thankful that we succeeded in finding him,” said Capt. Martin Garabedian of New Hampshire Fish & Game. “It's not advisable to hike alone, but Jackson was smart enough to let someone know when and where he was planning to hike, and when he was expected home.”
Jackson escaped without need of medical treatment and was only cold and tired when he was found.
“I was blown away by the rescuers and what those guys are willing to do on such short notice,” he said. “The story here is that those people are there should something like this happen.”
He said the presence of rescuers wouldn't prevent him from taking even more safety precautions next time he hikes. He said the incident will not keep him from hiking again because it's what he loves to do.
“I'm certainly going to think twice about going into the winter environment by myself again,” he said. “Maybe I was overconfident.”
Fish and Game officials make about 170 to 180 mountain rescues a year. They encourage hikers to learn more about safety at www.hikesafe.com.
