Young NH Woman Dead After Falling 600 Feet From Mountain

MEREDITH, NH — A 20-year-old New Hampshire woman is dead after falling around 600 feet down a ravine on New Hampshire's Mount Washington Saturday afternoon, officials said.

The steep bowl at Tuckerman Ravine has long made it a favorite spot for skiers — like Madison Saltsburg — and snowboarders who are seeking adventure beyond the comparative safety of the state's ski areas.

But conditions were hard and icy Saturday, resulting in Saltsburg's death and serious injuries for two other skiers who fell and hit rocks and ice. That's in addition to several other more minor falls reported throughout the day.

The day of accidents prompted search efforts that continued for hours in the dark as teams worked to rescue the injured skiers and remove Saltsburg's body from the mountain. Heavy, wet snow started to fall Saturday night and winds began to pick up, forcing the rescuers to battle on through the worsening conditions.

Tuckerman Ravine is particularly popular in the spring, when the sun begins to soften the snow. On some days, hundreds of skiers and snowboarders make the 3-mile hike to the ravine, resulting in a festive atmosphere. From there it can take another hour to kick boot steps in the wall to get to the top.

But risks — including open crevasses, avalanches, and rocks — have resulted in several deaths over the years.

"From late fall through late spring or even early summer, think of it more as a mountaineering ascent than a hike," the U.S. Forest Service writes on its website. "The consequences of a fall or being involved in an avalanche during these months can be dire. Without appropriate equipment (e.g. ice axe, crampons, and avalanche equipment), climbing this trail in winter should not be attempted."

The Forest Service said Saltsburg and her skiing companion encountered hard and icy snow surfaces due to cold temperatures and a lack of recent snowfall. There were also open holes on the mountain, the service said, and conditions were unforgiving.

At 6,288 feet, Mount Washington is the tallest peak in the northeast and is notorious for its fickle weather. It is the sight of frequent rescues.

Just the previous night, on Friday, a 23-year-old hiker from Kentucky was rescued from the mountain after going off trail and into the Ammonoosuc Ravine, New Hampshire Fish and Game reported.

The hiker "fell and hit his head and face, lost one of his sneakers, and eventually became hypothermic," the agency said in a statement.

"He was given boots, food, warm drink, proper winter gear, and a headlamp. He was then escorted back to the trail and then to the Cog Railway parking lot," according to the agency.

Another hiker who was rescued from the Ammonoosuc Ravine in February described his 11-hour ordeal to The Associated Press, acknowledging he had made some poor decisions and was underprepared for his hike, and crediting rescuers with saving his life.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.