Three Massachusetts hikers were rescued Sunday evening after encountering whiteout conditions and cold-related injuries on Franconia Ridge in the White Mountains. The New Hampshire Fish and Game Department responded to an SOS alert received at 5:30 p.m. from a Garmin device near Mount Lincoln.
The hikers—Jack Tragni, 24, of Boston; Justin Yang, 24, of Cambridge; and Vaishnav Raja, 25, of Boston—set out at 9 a.m. to complete the Falling Waters/Bridle Path Loop as part of a training hike for Mount Washington. Despite being equipped for winter, the group struggled with deep snow and near-zero visibility above the treeline. After crossing Mount Lincoln, they decided to continue toward Mount Lafayette rather than turn back.
Rescuers tracked the group’s slow progress toward Mount Lafayette using GPS data. By 7:30 p.m., conservation officers and volunteers from the Pemi Valley Search and Rescue Team began ascending the Old Bridle Path. They reached the hikers at 9:10 p.m., just below Greenleaf Hut, before guiding them safely to the trailhead by 10:20 p.m.
The hikers expressed gratitude for the quick response that pulled rescuers away from their families on Super Bowl Sunday. Tragni admitted they panicked when activating the SOS but knew help would take hours to arrive.
Officials noted that while the group was well-prepared with winter gear and a Hike Safe Card, they lacked experience with above-treeline conditions. Their planned Mount Washington hike is now postponed.
Winter hikers are reminded to carry essential gear, including maps, compasses, warm clothing, extra food and water, headlamps, and first aid kits. For more safety tips, visit hikeSafe.com.
