Emergency Response on Ferry Spring Trail
On December 19, around 10 p.m., authorities received an alert about three hikers in distress on Mount Monadnock's Ferry Spring Trail in Jaffrey, New Hampshire.
New Hampshire Fish and Game officers made contact via cellphone and discovered one hiker was assisting two others who had fallen into a brook.
Dangerous Conditions and Injuries
The two hikers, identified as 18-year-old Shawn Paelian and 18-year-old Brendan Girouard from Wichendon, Massachusetts, were wet and freezing after the fall.
Officials stated that high winds, dropping temperatures, and their soaked clothing created a life-threatening risk of cold weather injuries.
According to officials, the distressed hikers lacked food, water, warm clothes, a change of clothes, or any cold weather gear.
One hiker managed to walk down the mountain independently, but the other was immobilized and suffering from cold weather injuries.
Rescue and Charges
Rescue crews eventually removed the hiker's frozen clothes and began warming him up.
Officials say the pair had started their hike after dark, and one of the hikers, identified as Girouard, was heavily intoxicated.
New Hampshire Fish and Game say he will be charged with minor in possession of alcohol and it will be recommended that the hiking pair be billed for the rescue.
