In the past week, six hikers have had to be rescued in the White Mountains because they were not prepared for the winter-like weather that often happens at elevation in early spring.
In the White Mountains this is known as the spring shoulder season, which sounds innocuous enough, but as the past week has shown it can be dangerous.
Since last Thursday, six people were rescued off mountain trails after being caught by bad weather in three separate incidents and a seventh person died, perhaps due in part by the weekend’s sharp turn to freezing temperatures and snow after a spell of warmth and sunshine.
That’s a high number for this time of year, when trails are relatively empty before crowds of summertime hikers descend on the North Country. But it’s not unique: New Hampshire Fish and Game reports a half-dozen or so rescues every April, and that doesn’t include rescues by volunteer groups and state parks.
While far fewer than in summer — Fish and Game reported 18 rescues last August alone — it still reflects the dangers of shoulder season, when the region is transitioning out of winter.
The issue, of course, is the weather. Mount Washington calls itself home to world’s worst weather but it might be more accurate to say world’s most unpredictable weather. Shoulder seasons, in spring and autumn, are the most unpredictable of all.
Due to various meteorological and geographic circumstances, conditions change more quickly over elevation gain here than in most locations. It can be 65 degrees in the parking lot and an hour of moderate uphill exercise will put you in cold, snow and high winds. Hikers with clothing and gear appropriate for 65 degrees will quickly get into trouble.
Last Friday, three hikers from Massachusetts were rescued by nightfall from Falling Waters Trail, after icy conditions and difficult stream crossings due to high water slowed their progress.
On Saturday, two hikers from Plymouth, Mass., made it to the summit of Mount Washington but an injury led them to require rescue from tough conditions above treeline.
On Monday, a hiker from Massachusetts had to be rescued off the Rocky Branch Trail in Bartlett after he was caught in a snowstorm and made a wrong turn on a trail, eventually getting lost.
Most tragic of all, a 61-year-old man from Massachusetts who had been reported missing after going hiking in Franconia Notch was found dead on the Kinsman Pond Trail.
New Hampshire Fish and Game said Kent Wood of West Roxbury had gone to Lafayette Campground last Friday and camped, then began hiking on Saturday. His family notified authorities Monday that they had not heard from him. A search discovered him about 5 1/2 miles up the Kinsman Pond Trail, according to a release.
Authorities said Wood had not been prepared for the several inches of snow that fell over the weekend with unseasonably cold temperatures.
No matter what weather apps say, anybody hiking at any elevation in New Hampshire should be prepared for winter-like weather.
