NH to bill teen hikers rescued from White Mountains, officials say
The group of 18-year-olds did not have lights, were low on water and food and were not properly dressed for the conditions, officials said.
The New Hampshire Fish and Game Department is billing four 18-year-old hikers who had to be rescued Friday after trying to navigate the White Mountains unprepared, officials announced Saturday.
The hikers were identified as Jainam Bhavsar, Purva Jayani, Tirth Shah, and Advik Yadav, all from New Jersey, the Fish and Game Department said in a press release Saturday.
Shortly before 9 p.m., crews responded to the group who were stuck on Franconia Ridge in Franconia, officials said.
One hiker reported having difficulty breathing and sore legs, according to the release.
Officials learned that the group had started their hike at 3:30 pm and did not have headlamps, or enough food and water to complete the 7-9 hour hike, the release said.
The group was not properly dressed for the strong winds and cold temperatures above 5000 feet, according to officials.
A Pemi Valley Search and Rescue Team left the trailhead shortly after 10:30 p.m., hiking over 4.2 miles to Franconia Ridge and then to Mount Lincoln, where they found the hikers nearly three hours later, officials said.
The unprepared hikers were given lights, food, water, and warm clothing, officials said.
Rescuers guided the group back to the trailhead where they arrived shortly after 9:00 a.m. on Saturday morning, according to the release.
New Hampshire is one of the few states where hikers deemed negligent can be charged for their rescues.
The department typically conducts between 180 and 200 rescues each year, and of those, around 12 on average will end up with a bill, New Hampshire Fish and Game Colonel Kevin Jordan told EMS1 in February.