Heroes of the Week: NH Conservation Officers Rescue Couple in White Mountains

This week's heroes are the New Hampshire Conversation Officers of the White Mountain National Forest, who rescued an ill-prepared couple hiking. Here's the story from Boston dot com: 

(Photo: Little Haystack Mountain. The Franconia Ridge as seen from Mount Lincoln looking south. Little Haystack is visible down the ridge; Mount Liberty and Mount Flume are visible behind the ridge line. Credit: Wikipedia )

NH couple rescued while hiking in White Mountains

Conservation officers said the couple did not pack proper gear for the weather. Search and rescue personnel reached the couple at 1:20 a.m. 

By Susannah Sudborough, Boston.com , June 5, 2023

Conservation officers rescued a New Hampshire couple hiking in the White Mountains early Sunday morning, June 4, 2023 after improper gear caused one of the hikers to develop mild symptoms of hypothermia.

Bryan Morse, 29, and his wife, Samantha Nigro, 26, had summitted Little Haystack Mountain in Franconia Saturday evening (June 3, 2023) when they began to succumb to the day’s cold and wet conditions, the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department said in a press release on June 5.

The Franklin residents had been hiking for more than eight hours and planned to continue on to a tent site when they became so cold they called 911 around 9:30 p.m., the release said. One of the hikers was exhibiting signs of mild hypothermia and didn’t think they could continue walking.

(File Photo: Not the officers who rescued the couple, but a file photo of officers recognized as Officers of the year in 2019: Left to right: Conservation Officer James Benvenuti, K-9 Cora, Conservation Officer Kevin Bronson, Sergeant Geoffrey Pushee, and Lieutenant William Boudreau.  Credit: NH Fish and Wildlife). 

Conservation officers and a search and rescue team responded and hiked up three miles to the couple’s location, reaching them around 1:20 a.m., the release said. The team gave the couple warm clothing, food, and water before beginning the hike back down around 1:40 a.m. The team and the couple reached the trailhead around 6 a.m. Sunday, June 4.

Conservation officers said in the release that the couple’s inexperience and improper gear was a factor in their needing rescue. The couple had managed to make a fire and had brought a tent and sleeping bags, but the sleeping bags got soaked in the day’s rain. Additionally, both Morse and Nigro were wearing cotton which retains water and prevented them from getting dry.

In the wake of the rescue, the Fish and Game Department is reminding the public to pay attention to weather forecasts before hiking and to bring weather-appropriate gear. For more information on how to stay safe while hiking, visit the department’s website.

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Here's how to contact your local New Hampshire Conservation Officer (CO): call the Dispatch Office at (603) 271-3361. Dispatch can be reached 24 hours, 7 days a week. The Dispatcher can relay a message to your local Conservation Officer.

 

If you have a question about Fish and Game laws and rules, call (603) 271-3127 Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. If you have a question about wildlife, fishing, hunting, OHRVs, etc., please try the search box at the top of any page, or Frequently Asked Questions section of this website first.