Siblings rescued from icy conditions on NH trail

Two siblings who left for a two-day hike Saturday were reportedly rescued by New Hampshire Fish and Game early Sunday morning, suffering from hypothermia after falling into a creek and soaking their clothes.

The siblings, ages 18 and 20, were planning a two-day hike around Owl’s Head, a mountain in Franconia, New Hampshire, officials said. They left around 7 a.m. Saturday from Lincoln Woods, planning to spend the night at Thirteen Falls.

They fell into Lincoln Creek while hiking and changed into dry clothes, but fell into the creek a second time, soaking their remaining clothing, New Hampshire Fish and Game reported on its division’s Facebook page. law enforcement. They set up camp 2.5 miles from their destination, hoping to get warm, but recognized the early stages of hypothermia. Using a Garmin inReach, a satellite communications system, they contacted outdoor programs staff at Dartmouth, where the 20-year-old is a sophomore. The 18-year-old is a freshman at Mount Holyoke College in South Hadley.

“Information was passed back to the group and shortly after, a rescue request was made,” conservation officials said.

Coordinates put them 8.5 miles from the trailhead and two conservation officers reached them around 2:30 a.m. Sunday. They were given dry clothes and at 3:30 a.m. they were able to resume hiking to the trailhead, where they arrived at 7:15 a.m., officials said.

New Hampshire Fish and Game, which noted that the siblings were “well prepared with equipment,” used the announcement to remind hikers that winter conditions have arrived in the mountains.

Before setting out, all hikers should carry the ten essential items: a map, compass, warm clothing, extra food and water, headlamp, fire starter, first aid kit, whistle, waterproof/windproof jackets and pants and a knife, authorities said. Additional information and advice can be found at hikingsafe.com.