Hiker falls into river trying to follow it off dark mountain, New Hampshire rescuers say

As night settled in, temperatures on Mount Washington plunged.

It was in the low 50s and only going to get colder. The 37-year-old hiker from Quebec knew she needed to hurry, but could no longer see the trail. Without a headlamp or flashlight, she decided to follow the Ellis River down the mountain, the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department said in an Aug. 21 news release.

Somewhere along the way, the hiker felt herself lose her footing , and she tumbled into the river, officials said.

The woman pulled herself out, but the current had taken one of her shoes, according to officials.

The hiker “feared for her life,” officials said, and she called for help.

At approximately 10:45 p.m. on Aug. 20, rescue officers received a call from 911 about the hiker and headed out to find her. The rescuers knew this was a race against hypothermia.

At 1:20 a.m., they found her.

“She was immediately given warm clothing and assisted back across the river to the trail,” officials said.

The woman was exhausted but was able to hike down the trail with the help of rescuers and additional clothing, according to officials.

They arrived safely at the Pinkham Notch Visitor Center at 2:25 a.m.

Given the falling temperatures and the woman’s slip into the river, officials said they were “glad that the situation turned out as well as it did.”

“New Hampshire Fish and Game reminds hikers to prepare themselves before venturing out into the wilderness, including packing the ten essential items: map, compass, warm clothing, extra food and water, headlamp, fire starter, first aid kit, whistle, rain/wind jackets and pants, and a knife,” officials said in the release.

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