In what officials described as “a waste of time, money and resources which could have easily been avoided,” a hiker’s failure to notify anybody when he changed his plans led to a huge search in the White Mountains on Monday that included a helicopter, snowcat and several rescue teams.
According to the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department, the search began early Monday after the wife of 70-year-old Christophe Chamley of Massachusetts called 911 at 3:48 a.m. because he had not returned home after going up to the White Mountains on Sunday for a day hike.
“Chamley’s family did not have a hiking itinerary for him and only knew he was hiking in the White Mountains,” according to a press release.
The subsequent search involved rescue teams from New Hampshire Fish and Game, Androscoggin Valley Search and Rescue, Snow Rangers from the U.S. Forest Service and snowcat operators from the Mount Washington State Park. A National Guard helicopter was also brought in and started to search from the air.
However, as Fish and Game Lt. Wayne Saunders reported: “While updating the family on the search missions I was informed by them that they had just spoken with the Mount Washington Hotel and Christophe Chamley had checked in at 1 a.m. (Monday).”
According to Saunders, Chamley left his car at the Appalachian Mountain Club parking lot on Route 2 in Randolph at 7:45 a.m. Sunday and climbed Mount Adams and Mount Jefferson, then “decided to bail off” and descended to the Mount Washington Hotel, where he checked in at 1 a.m. Monday.
“When he arrived at the hotel he messengered his wife which did not go through and he did not confirm that she had received his message,” Saunders wrote.
“Chamley did not get up the following morning until around 11 a.m. … and was unaware of the search for him. Failure to communicate plans and confirm that loved ones had received his message that he was all right caused the reporting of him overdue, coupled with his age and medical condition, caused an urgent response from Fish and Game where none was needed. A waste of time, money and resources which could have easily been avoided,” he wrote.
It is unclear whether Chamley will be charged for the rescue.
State law allows Fish and Game to recoup costs for rescues if the person involved is judged to have behaved “recklessly.” Rescues involving a helicopter frequently cost several thousand dollars.
(David Brooks can be reached at 369-3313 or dbrooks@cmonitor.com or on Twitter @GraniteGeek.)
