Heroes of the Week: NH Fish and Game Rescues Hiker in Wind Chills of -92F on Mt. Washington

Inexperienced hikers should not be climbing the White Mountains of New Hampshire or any other mountain, especially in the winter. That's what happened in late February when a 22 year old guy got lost and disoriented on Mt. Washington, New Hampshire's tallest mountain, and the site of the U.S.'s worst weather. The NH Fish and Game Law Enforcement Division was called to rescue this guy during wind chills of MINUS 92 degrees Fahrenheit.

Hiker Rescued From Western Slope of Mt. Washington in Wind Chills of -92F

NH Fish and Game Law Enforcement Division PRESS RELEASE February 18, 2024

On Sargents Purchase, Mt. Washington, NH - At approximately 11:50 AM on Saturday February 17, 2024, 22 year old Cole Matthes of Portsmouth New Hampshire was hiking in the Ammonusuc Ravine when he fell and became injured. After the fall, Matthes called 911 and requested help. Due to poor reception, very little information could be obtained other than he had an injury and needed help. This call was sent to a Conservation Officer along with the GPS coordinates of Matthes’ location. The coordinates showed Matthes well off trail in a drainage ravine west of Westside Trail and north of Crawford Path at approximately 4,500 feet in elevation.

With little information to go on, calls were made to Conservation Officers on the Advanced Search and Rescue Team, Androscoggin Valley Search and Rescue Team, and Mountain Rescue Service to start a response.

Calls were then made to The Mount Washington Auto Road and The Cog Railway about the possibility of getting rescuers up the mountain. It was decided that due to the location, The Cog Railway would be best. The Cog Railway was willing to start a special train, mount a snow blower on the front and bring rescue crews up to the crossing of the Westside trail. This offer would save the rescue teams many miles of strenuous hiking and the offer was gladly accepted.

(photo:  View from atop Mt. Washington. Credit: NBC 10 Boston) 

As rescue crews were responding, he Cog Railway it was determined that two trains would be utilized, an early team would go up and clear the path and get started to the GPS location while the second rescue crew would get relayed up after.

After the first crew had set off on foot from the train on the Westside Trail another call came in from Matthes. The call was transferred from Matthes via 911 to the Conservation Officer coordinating the rescue effort. Again, Matthes could not be heard. A while later Matthes called again and the reception was barely enough to understand that he was no longer at the same location but had made his way to the Lakes in the Clouds Hut and was below the building in the emergency shelter. It was also confirmed that he still needed help.

A radio call was made to the initial rescue team to make their way to the hut instead of going off trail towards the original coordinates. A short while later the second train with the second group of rescuers were dropped off and started across the Westside trail. Conditions on Mt. Washington were sustained winds at 90+ MPH, a wind-chill of -52 F and an ambient temperature of -9 F. These conditions do not allow for exposed skin and require proper gear and experience to survive in.

The first group of rescuers were able to meet with Matthes at the Lakes emergency shelter at 6:17 PM. The rescue crew relayed that Matthes was not injured but suffering from hypothermia and was wearing many layers of frozen clothes to include frozen hiking shoes. Over time the second wave of rescuers arrived at the emergency shelter and it took over three hours to slowly warm Matthes.

The rescue crew arrived at The Cog Railway base station at approximately 10:50 PM. Twin Mountain Ambulance was at the Base Station and initially treated Matthes for hypothermia and frostbite.

After multiple recommendations that he go the hospital Matthes refused treatment and “signed off” that he did not want to be treated. Matthes was released from the ambulance and brought to his vehicle at 11:38 PM.

Matthes made numerous poor decisions in regards to the hike that he planned in the White Mountains. Matthes did not have proper gear, equipment, weather planning, and or proper critical decisions in order to keep himself out of harm’s way and moving in the right direction on a dangerous mountain range. Matthes saw other groups turn around and say, “The weather isn’t worth it.” But he decided to keep going.

Matthes called for a rescue after making all these poor choices, and putting himself in a situation that placed 11 other lives in danger in order to save his. Even though the rescuers complete these heroic tasks with humility and passion there is still never ending concern as to why inexperienced solo hikers continue to push on. If it was not for the willingness and timeliness of The Cog Railway, the rescuers, and others, Matthes would have undoubtedly died on the mountain.

The list of people who have died on the Presidential Range will stay at 173 for now thanks to the rescue effort that saved Cole Matthes’ life on Saturday February 17, 2024.