Two experienced hikers, Kathryn McKee, 51, and Beata LeLacheur, 54, both from Massachusetts, faced a harrowing ordeal during a recent hike on New Hampshire’s Mount Washington, the tallest peak in the Northeast. The women, who had previously tackled the challenging trail a month ago, decided to take on the mountain again after exploring other peaks in the White Mountains. Despite being well-prepared with warm clothing, headlamps, and other essential gear, they found themselves battling extreme weather conditions and losing daylight as they descended the mountain. The situation quickly turned dire when powerful winds, freezing temperatures, and waist-deep snow created a whiteout, making it impossible for them to see or stay on the trail.
The duo’s struggles intensified when McKee’s snowshoe became stuck in a “spruce trap,” a hidden hole in the snow beneath a tree. After spending nearly 20 minutes freeing herself, they continued onward, but the worsening conditions forced them to crawl on their bellies to make progress. Despite their best efforts, the women realized they were unable to continue safely and decided to call 911 for assistance. Rescue teams from the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department pinpointed their GPS location and attempted to guide them back to the trail, which was just 34 feet away. However, the trail had been completely erased by the wind and snow, leaving the women disoriented and unable to follow the directions provided by the rescuers.
Sergeant Matthew Holmes of the Fish and Game Department described the extreme conditions the women faced, including temperatures of 2 degrees below zero and sustained winds of 50 to 60 mph at the summit. McKee and LeLacheur were stranded at an elevation of about 5,000 feet, where the cold became so severe that McKee lost the use of her hands, even with gloves and liners. Despite her efforts to retrieve emergency supplies from her first aid kit, she found herself unable to open it due to her frozen hands. The two hikers huddled together in the snow for about six hours, using a bag as a makeshift wind guard and wrapping themselves in insulation to stay as warm as possible.
Rescue efforts were launched late Sunday night, with the Mount Washington State Park snowcat leading a team of nine rescuers up the mountain’s auto road. The rescuers arrived at the summit just before midnight and began snowshoeing through the deep, wind-blown snow. Navigating the treacherous terrain using GPS, they finally reached the hikers’ location at 1:20 a.m. Monday. McKee and LeLacheur were found to have suffered frostbite, primarily on their hands, but were otherwise able to move on their own after being provided with emergency shelter. By 4:15 a.m., the rescuers escorted the women down to the base station of the Cog Railway.
Despite their terrifying experience, the hikers expressed deep gratitude to their rescuers, acknowledging that the 911 call had saved their lives. Both women were experienced hikers with winter hiking training from the Appalachian Mountain Club and had been well-prepared for their excursion, equipped with emergency gear and warm clothing. However, the unpredictability of Mount Washington’s weather proved overwhelming, even for seasoned adventurers. McKee and LeLacheur have vowed to continue hiking in the White Mountains, though they plan to add a small pop-up tent to their gear for future trips as an extra precaution.
Reflecting on their ordeal, McKee remarked, “You either get back on the horse, or you don’t. I’m going to do it as safe as I can, but I recognize there are risks in what we do.” The resilience and determination of these two women serve as a testament to the human spirit’s ability to persevere in the face of adversity. Their story also underscores the importance of preparedness and the unpredictable nature of wilderness adventures, even for the most experienced explorers.
