JAFFREY, NH — Three minor hikers from Massachusetts were assisted off Mount Monadnock on Friday night after calling for help from the mountain, according to the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department.
Fish and Game reported that at 8:20 p.m., conservation officers were contacted by the New Hampshire State Police Dispatch Center about a group of hikers on Mount Monadnock who were calling for help. The three hikers were on the Red Spot Trail and were described as not dressed for the falling temperatures. According to Fish and Game, they also lacked proper footwear or gear for snow and ice, and had no lights.
A pair of conservation officers hiked up to the stranded group and made contact on the Old Ski Path Trail at about 10:10 p.m., according to the department. The hikers were then given the gear needed to hike down to the Monadnock Headquarters on Poole Road with assistance. Fish and Game reported that the group arrived just after 11 p.m.
The department used the incident to remind hikers that spring conditions at lower elevations do not always match those found higher up. New Hampshire Fish and Game said that even though the weather is warming up, icy, winter-like conditions can still persist on the summits of New Hampshire's mountains.
Fish and Game directed hikers looking for safety information to hikesafe.com, where the agency said people can find safe hiking tips and a list of essential gear. The department also encouraged outdoor enthusiasts to purchase a Hike Safe card. The card helps support search-and-rescue missions. The department did not report any injuries in the incident. No further details about the hikers were available due to their being minors.
Mount Monadnock is one of the state's best-known hiking destinations, and Fish and Game's update served as a reminder that conditions can change quickly after dark and near the summit.
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