*** Four hikers lost on Mt. Washington in winter ***


Wed Dec 21 11:45:25 1994
Message : #20056882    From: Tod Hagan
Address : tod@mv.mv.com
Group   : Usenet.rec.backcountry
Length  : 327 words
Subject : NH: Missing Mt. Washington Hikers Safe

Org.  : MV Communications, Inc.

The following info pieced together from various media reports:

The four Canadian hikers who were the subject of a major search effort
emerged from the woods in Crawford Notch on Monday evening. Except for
minor frostbite, all were in good shape with enough humor remaining to dub
themselves the "Montreal Morons". Pascal Lemieux, 24, and Sharon Quesenel,
23, had previously climbed Mt. Washington; with them were Gerhard Holmok,
27, and Kerry Hall, 23.

They stayed at Hermit Lake shelter in Tuckerman ravine on Saturday night,
where the caretaker talked them out of ascending Hillman's Highway to the
summit.

Sunday morning they followed the caretaker's advice and took the Lion Head
trail to the summit. They left their backpacks and sleeping bags at Hermit
Lake and carried little food or gear with them. After reaching the summit
they became disoriented in a whiteout and descended towards Mt. Monroe.
The temperature was 2 degrees with 65 mph winds. They unexpectedly
happened upon Lakes of the Clouds hut, and spent Sunday night there in the
emergency shelter.

Monday morning they attempted to head east through similar poor weather
conditions, but again became disoriented and descended into Oakes gulf.
After plowing through the deep snow that has already begun to accumulate
there, they happened upon some footprints and followed them to a tent.
They got food and directions from the couple in the tent, and then
followed the Dry River trail to route 302, which they reached a little
before 10 p.m. They called authorities from the general store on route 302
in Hart's Location.

Monday's search involved about 30 people, mostly volunteers, from the
usual organizations: Mountain Rescue Service, Androscoggin Valley Search
and Rescue, New Hampshire Fish and Game, Appalachian Mountain Club, and
U.S. Forest Service.

--
Tod Hagan        tod@mv.mv.com
Consultant       t.hagan@genie.geis.com
Campton, NH
(Tod Hagan)