New Hampshire Fish and Game and Monadnock State Park staff rescued a hiker who had gotten lost on the summit of Mount Monadnock Saturday.
According to a release from New Hampshire Fish and Game, at 4:10 p.m., with a half-hour of natural light remaining, 32-year-old Krishna Ganne of Norman, Okla., contacted New Hampshire Fish and Game via Cheshire County Sheriff’s Office in need of assistance. Ganne said the rocky summit was completely cloud-covered and he may have strayed off trail above tree line.
With the assistance of a conservation officer at the bottom, Ganne was able to provide location information gathered on his phone, which was relayed to three Monadnock State Park rangers from the Department of Natural and Cultural Resources and a Fish and Game conservation officer who were ascending in an attempt to locate him. The team immediately responded to his location, while he was advised to keep himself as sheltered as possible and not move so rescuers could find him. According to New Hampshire Fish and Game, new and heavy snow, high winds and freezing temperatures at the summit added to the challenge.
Ganne was located approximately two hours after his first call for help. He was uninjured and able to descend with the rescue party to Monadnock State Park headquarters. New Hampshire Fish and Game stated that Ganne was well-outfitted for winter hiking, but inexperienced with navigation above the tree line in those challenging conditions.
Hikers are reminded to always prepare for the unexpected and carry the necessary equipment for their safety and survival in an emergency situation. For information, visit hikesafe.com.