Overview
- Mount Washington Cog Railway crews ferried more than 20 distressed hikers from the 6,288‑foot summit on Saturday, with some showing early hypothermia, and charged the standard one‑way fare.
- Conditions included temperatures near 20 degrees, wind chills near zero, 3–4 inches of snow and winds around 35 mph, with single‑digit readings reported at the summit.
- Railway staff said many hikers were poorly equipped, including sneakers and non‑waterproof layers, and some were inexperienced or unaware that shelter and services were unavailable.
- On Sunday night, 20‑year‑old Owen Strommer was located near the top of the Tuckerman Ravine Trail with a dying headlamp and phone and was escorted to safety by park staff and conservation officers without injury.
- New Hampshire Fish and Game and State Parks urged hikers to prepare for winter conditions on high peaks, check current summit forecasts, and recognize that the Sherman Adams building and the Auto Road to the summit are closed.