Two hikers, Shane Squires (35) and Robert Conlon (41), were rescued from Mount Lafayette after losing the trail during a winter descent on Dec. 12. Rescuers located the pair around 2:45 a.m.; one had developed severe hypothermia and was intermittently unconscious. Both were treated for frostbite after reaching the trailhead by 5:30 a.m. NHFG said the men were ill-equipped for the conditions and urged adherence to the HikeSafe guidelines.
Two Hikers Rescued From Mount Lafayette After Becoming Disoriented; One Suffered Severe Hypothermia
GettyMount Lafayette in the White Mountains region of New Hampshire in the United States
Two men hiking Mount Lafayette in New Hampshire were rescued in the early hours of Dec. 13 after becoming disoriented during a winter descent. New Hampshire Fish and Game (NHFG) reported that one of the hikers developed severe hypothermia and both were later treated for frostbite.
What Happened
Shane Squires, 35, and Robert Conlon, 41, began their hike on the nine-mile Greenleaf Trail around 1 p.m. on Dec. 12. While descending from the summit they lost the marked trail amid heavy winds, waist-high snow and temperatures near 10°F. At 9:45 p.m. the pair called for help and said one had injured a leg and they could not continue.
Rescue Effort
Conservation officers and volunteers from the Pemi Valley Search and Rescue Team mobilized at 11:25 p.m., and the Army National Guard evaluated a helicopter extraction. An Army Guard crew reached Franconia Notch around 2:30 a.m., but heavy cloud cover at roughly 3,700 feet prevented a helicopter approach.
Ground teams located the hikers about 2:45 a.m. Rescuers reached them roughly 15 minutes later, provided additional clothing and warmed the men. Officials later determined that the reported leg injury was not as serious as initially believed.
Aftermath and Warnings
The group began the return to the trail at 3:00 a.m., and the rescue party reached the trailhead by 5:30 a.m. Squires and Conlon were able to hike out with assistance and then drove themselves to a hospital, where they were treated for frostbite. NHFG said one hiker had experienced "severe" hypothermia and had been in and out of consciousness during the night.
NHFG Statement: “The two were ill-equipped for a hike of this magnitude. They lacked appropriate clothing for the weather conditions and were navigating with a phone when they lost the trail. Rescues of this magnitude and conditions put rescue personnel at great risk.”
NHFG reiterated guidance from its HikeSafe program, urging hikers to carry proper clothing, navigation tools and the gear required for winter conditions before attempting White Mountain hikes.
