As someone who has underestimated a solo hike in the winter and found out that my winter tent, sleeping bag and clothes weren't enough, what got me through the night was the emergency blanket. Not only does it take absolutely no space, but it was the first time I used it and I was shocked how well it worked, it actually made me feel hot, not just warm. It was a lifesaver, takes no space nor weight, please, always have one on your backpack pockets, you never know when you'll need it.
The rescuers really are unsung heroes, selflessly venturing out in such conditions, at potential great risk to themselves, for the sole purpose of going to the aid of a stranger. Bravo, team. We salute you. 👍
I've hiked in the White Mountains with friends and they told me about Franconia Ridge being tough even in the summer. I would not do it in the winter. People don't realize how cold it gets at the top of these mountains in the winter. RIP Guopeng
It's doable. Lot of people do. Has to be done with proper gear and plan after checking the weather forecast. Not by starting at 11 AM. 11 AM is too late for a winter day hike like Franconia.
I remember when I hiked mt elden with a friend in the winter and I’ll never forget how suddenly the temperate changes when you get to the top and have 0 wind cover, and since then I always respect the cold
he started the hike way too late. when you do a solo hike, especially in the winter, you want to be the first one out there before 6am so that you are not the last one off the mountain in case something happens and so that you are not hiking in the dark.
Hiking in the dark is no problem if you have headlamps and spare batteries. Use lithium batteries instead of alkaline if your light isn’t rechargeable, lithiums handle cold better (but will give slightly lower light output.)
Well they said it was a 8 hour hike in the summer. So it would have been 7:00 at night in a ideal situation. Unfortunately he started out late. Didn't even bring any light source to guide him at night
If he was doing the Bridle Path/Franconia Ridge/Falling Waters loop (I can’t remember) it may be 8 hours in winter but it’s nowhere near 8 in summer. Greenleaf instead of Bridle Path adds a little, but not much. Falling Waters to Little Haystack & back down is about 2/3 the length of the loop, I’m a fat slow hiker and I did that in about 4 hours on Labor Day weekend.
I did this trail over the summer on the longest day of the year. We started around 9 and got back just before nightfall. fucking wild hike took like 11 hrs lol
I got lost on Mount Madison in the dead of winter. Never been colder in my life-winter hiking is not for me. Made it to the road at around 1am. A “pro” hiker invited me to come with him and it was one of the worst mistakes I ever made. So glad I survived it.
@@BadThrusher no, he wasn’t murderous, just overestimating his capacity and I was young and he made it sound easy, didn’t even help me to check if I had the right gear
I’d consider myself a relatively experienced hiker and these “hiker goes missing” events serve as a reminder to me that the White Mountains can be incredibly unforgiving even in the warmer months. These things happen and are tragic but If you go hiking in the White Mountains make sure you are well prepared and only hike when the weather conditions are favorable. But please understand the weather can quickly become unpredictable and dangerous at anytime. This particular hiking loop can be a wonderful and enchanting experience but you must be experienced and prepared for it especially in the winter and or if your hiking all alone.
2023 Thru hiked the Appalachian Trail and the Whites had some of the most difficult terrain I encountered on the trail. Steep ascents and descents and though I was well equipped - well as well equipped as someone hiking the AT and concerned about weight could be, I was always watching my weather app, examining my distance, and had a clear goal of where I wanted to stop for the night and a plan B if I couldn't do the miles I wanted. The Whites are no joke, regardless of the time of the year. I want to go back and hike short sections just to enjoy the beauty. All I saw on my hike was two feet in front of my toes.
He wasn't the first and he won't be the last to underestimate that mountain and pay for it. Winter conditions are not for the inexperienced or unprepared.
I live in Nashua, NH. My husband & I hike often. We have hike safe cards & are well prepared. I see all the time in my hiking groups on Facebook that people think these trails are easy & can just be done by anyone. Even the danger in the summer is underestimated by the tourists. It's sad seeing these stories in the news all the time.
Going out alone in winter is ridiculous. He was supposedly prepared but left so late in the day and didn't have extra clothing? 2023 and people are still making the same mistakes
If you have the right gear and know how to use it, an honest appraisal of your own ability & skills, and are willing to turn back without having summited, solo hiking in winter is only slightly more dangerous than summer hiking.
As a very experienced long distance backpacker the biggest issue I have with using your phone for navigation is the touch screen. In poor weather it’s next to useless. I take the pass code off my phone to make logging in a little easier. Still the touch screens are a big issue in poor weather. It’s a much bigger issue than the battery. I have a battery backup. I was hiking the Long Trail in Vermont this summer and the weather was extremely wet, nonstop rain and super high humidity. I was also out of cell range when they predicted that massive rain storm that caused many areas of Vermont to flood. They received over 10 inches of rain in about 12 hours. I actually feel very fortunate to have gotten out alive. A man on the AT about 50 miles from me drowned. Things can and do happen.
Seems a little dry bag like I use kayaking would help in that situation. It's about 9" when closed and has a plastic window allowing use of the touch screen. You can fit a decent amount of absolute essentials. Then again, this does little for navigation and lighting in the event of a phone failure.
Wrong. It is the existence of these rescue groups that give the appearance that help will come if something goes wrong. It would be better to send the message that if something goes wrong, you're on your own and you will die. That will make hikers much more cautious and self reliant. Theses groups should be called Body Collection Groups and only start out two or three days after the person is reported lost.
@@herberthall8082 I understand your sentiments but who should SAR decide who they go searching for and try to rescue? What should SAR have done in the case of the missing & snowbound husband & wife & child who were lost in the Oregon wilderness for a week when they took a wrong turn? Just leave them out there to find their own way out because the adults made a bad decision? After all, we're all human and no one wants to turn their back on someone and just let them die to teach them a lesson for their poor decisions.
@@herberthall8082 Yeah, and knowing the greatly increased risk of cancer made people stop smoking cigarettes. People stopped driving without seatbelts when they found out how much more likely you are to survive a crash wearing one. And just think of how much money we could save if there wasn’t a 911 to call if you were being assaulted, your house was burning, etc. “Take care of it yourself or die.”
Particularly if a person is from a warmer climate, they can have little understanding of the actual clothing needed. I lived in N. Canada, so am well aware of the kind of clothing needed to be warm at -40. It's not uncommon for travelers to buy winter clothing where they live, and then if traveling to someplace significantly colder, not have sufficient clothing to be warm. I lived in Singapore for a decade, which is on the equator. What you'd see in stores as a 'winter coat' would qualify as a spring/fall coat in Canada.
The problem is, you don’t know whether you have the skills until you’re in a spot where you need them. Something I read in another comment went like “life is a hard teacher, it gives you the test first and then teaches the lesson if you pass.”
I’ve done Mt Washington and Mt LaFayette.. It can be 75 and sunny at the bottom and 40 (colder with windchill) and storming at top! Must dress in layers and never hike it alone!
And a compass, light, a power bank, satellite gps and a good map. Family of mine got stuck on a summer day trip. It wouldn't have been a big deal if it weren't bear territory.
Physical, paper maps, folks. They make them waterproof. Carry them, and know how to read them, and review all the trail junctions in advance. I cannot imagine relying 100% on a device with a battery.
Having a paper map makes seeing the big picture much easier than it is on a screen the size of a playing card. And familiarize yourself with the surrounding area on the map, including landmarks not on your route. Learn how to correlate what you see on a map with what’s around you, and don’t forget tree cover will make things look different than they do on the map. I’m so glad I learned map & compass back in the 80s in Boy Scouts and the army, and had plenty of opportunity to practice it.
Noway! My new Samsung galaxy phone is guaranteed to get me through 1 full day, with GPS! And my watch ⌚️ is backup. It can be charges via sun 🌞 and has GPS and emergency capabilities. 😶
I am sorry for his death and his family's loss/pain. However, I hate that one person's actions can put a rescue team in danger especially at Christmas when the rescue team should have been spending time with their family not searching for a stranger whose selfishness and idiotic put himself in danger. People nowadays need to have common sense and have to think carefully before making decisions because their decisions will affect a lot of people such as his family, friends coworkers and the rescue teams.
Well, the fact is rescue teams aren’t really called out to help tons of people who make sensible decisions and are prepared. It’s the name of the game.
i mean, that's literally their job. I'm a doctor and there was a ~7yr stretch when i was working every single Christmas. should i be blaming all my patients for making the poor choices that landed them in the hospital too? are you going to promise me that if you have an emergency on Christmas, you're just gonna stay home and die? 🤨 don't be heartless.
Boston born and bred, the mountains of NH, VT, Maine are beautiful but you have to be prepared for the worse, especially my Washington, any mountain, weather flips on a dime, hypothermia is a killer
The hike takes 8 hours in the summer. So it should naturally take longer in the winter. Very ill-prepared and uninformed of the trail. I’m going to hike that ridge loop next week but I’ve been preparing since May. Such a sad story
Leave very early in morning, bring extra clothing as if you may encounter winter conditions (because you may), bring a Garmin if have one, bring what you need to spend night on mountain in cold if you needed to, bring extra food, winter hat & gloves, etc. Have fun!
He had many friends here speaking highly of him. "Mr. Li was a very wonderful man who cared greatly for his cat Mimi. He always treated us with respect and kindness. I am very sad to hear this news, and very sorry for the loved ones who treasured him." $27,893 raised of $30,000 goal
Too bad that when he was a member of his college's hiking club he didn't go on some winter hikes with them. He would have had a better idea of what to bring and what his hiking speed would have been in winter conditions. Also this video is very vague about what the weather conditions actually were. Was there a storm? How cold did it get? What was the wind speed? Did he go out in spite of a bad forecast? He certainly made more than one mistake in this tragedy. Most of his bad decisions were made before he ever started the hike, but he should have known to abort the hike and turn around just by how slow his progress was.
I wondered the same thing. If he enjoyed spending time and some hiking when he was in China he should have understood that feces occur. At the hiking club, undoubtedly they discussed basic safety measures. Plus he lived in Boston and certainly knew it gets cold, snowy, and even icy in winter. I live in the South and even I know that!
It’s New England, where weather forecast can and do literally change within hours. And in the White Mountains, it can change within minutes. Doesn’t matter what the weather forecast said, I’d expect more sense out of someone who lived here for 4-5 years.
The White Mountains are always windy. In places like that you feel it in your bones. It’s too bad he lost his life. If you go solo hiking in the winter you should bring enough gear to survive the night in the elements.
I agree. Some details are missing. If you're part of a hiking club, I would say he was not ill-prepared. However, it is perplexing that he did an 8-hour hike starting late in the day. Something is amss.
At 8:15 it says that the average annual death toll in this region is 22. That number is correct for search and rescue missions but it includes the entire State of New Hampshire and includes drownings, other accidents and even suicides.
I get the joy of a solo hike nobody to answer to but I always think of the family members who are crushed when ppl don’t take their own lives seriously..take a buddy.
@@MN-br5nbno, there’s nothing wrong with solo hikes at all. I’m the cold a friend would be very little help to me. If I could magically make an experienced sherpa apppear I would but my friends end up being more I have to deal with in a situation like this.
Mount Washington is well known to have wildly fluctuating weather. If you hike there and don't prepare for the unknown then you will be in serious trouble. Be aware and be awake.
as someone whos done the franconia ridge in the winter, its almost impossible to bring "too much" extra gear. temperatures when I did it got to around -60F with windchill, and was quite windy, though luckily it was a very clear day and had no real issues besides the top of my head being a little cold through my hat. If youre inexperienced, I would highly recommend doing some easier winter hikes before doing something like the Franconia ridge. Plenty of other beautiful scenery to be seen throughout the white mountains!
Poor soul R.I.P! I did that same hike back in late September, 2021 It took us a little more than 6 hours to complete with good weather conditions. About an hour to finish we encountered 3 ladies a little off course, it was dark already they didn’t have flashlights, their cellphones were about to run out of battery and it was getting cold. They were so happy that we were able to help them! These type of hike are woundeful but you do need to be prepared because things could go wrong.
In certain national parks of Thailand there are warnings put out stating that you are not allowed to travel beyond certain points beyond a set time. Not a bad idea.
I am very happy they don’t do that here. Live free or die is NH state saying. It’s on their license plate. People hike and ski that area all the time. Another young person died in that area in November of the same year. She was a trial runner. Dressed poorly and lacking years of experience. I should not be limited by their inexperience and lack of knowledge.
I had a girl friend in NYC who was from Calgary, Alberta, and she was an ice climbing maniac. She told be how brutal the White Mts of New Hamshire are. If she says something like that, you know it. Later on I climbed Mt Kathadin in Maine, and that was pretty easy for a day run.
When I was early 20s around 2010, I hike Mount Washington with few friend (I believe was from west side) The hike was not hard, but I am pretty heavy weight (My friend usually helps me to bring 1 gallon water in their backpack for me, we are very good friends). But I had trouble to go up the last 200 feet to the top (may be thin air). So, I asked them to go without me. That was almost 5PM.. Was a huge mistake, it was late October, and it is gets dark around 5:45PM.. And there is no cell phone signal. I still can see them up there and I yell that I can go down mountain before dark and they also exhausted up there and wanted to do cable cart or rail. I waited until 6ish and they are still up there and I started to feel it is getting too dark for me to go down, I only had a very small flashlight (consider like iPhone 6 flashlight). I had to go down, there part of the hike there has dangerous slope and there is gap I have to jump through... I was slowly getting down thought my friends were taking cart... and believe or not, being Asian, I have so many ghost stories (like the ring) whatsoever and there is almost no light. So when I needed to take a break, I just sit down and close my eyes (lol) that won't run my imagination wide. Eventually I got down around 9ish (But there were two hikers went up around 8ish that I encountered, I thought was just hikers).. After I went down, started my car drink some water and started calling my friends).... Just about calling my friends, there is pick up truck just park behind me and there was park ranger/crew came to me asked questions. So, I found out what happened after I slowly get down by myself. One of my friend (A) had strength left actually came down to the area I was (200 feet away from the summit) few times to look for me. another friend (B) stayed at the cafe at the summit but the cafe was closed (Only one cleaning crew there), but we lost contact, so the friend (A) looked for me came down few times didn't find me and went back up. My another sit next to closed cafe and start to feel he should go down, so friend B went down along with the auto road. And friend A couldn't locate me and got scared and call the park ranger phone. He got pick up by a ranger truck near by the summit I believed (He might have come down himself but I don't remember the detail. So the two hikers went up encountered me around 1/3 way to the entrance can be looking for me... And we were brought to the room and got the lesson (I am appreciated being yelled at that time)
When I go camping or hiking and I pack more extra stuff than needed people always think I’m crazy, better to have it and not need it than need it and not have it
Never hike alone, never hike with not enough gear ,without a light, without a map,and never start too late during winter months. I have heard of many missing hikers that ended up this way because of these combinations ,Stay safe 🙏🏻
I have hiked alone SO many times, but that was prior to seeing all of these stories on UA-cam about hikers dying. They are on their own 9 times out of 10. Really makes me rethink some things.
He started WELL after when he should have AND he went backwards on the way he should have. You really should NOT descend Falling Waters trail in Winter, or ever really. PemiSAR actually refers to this trail as Falling Bodies trail because so many people get themselves into trouble and fall due to how steep and wet this trail is. The Ridge is NOT a place for hikers making poor decisions like this man. It's a very exposed and dangerous place if you don't know what you are doing. At least a few people die every year on this trail.
Whatever was going through this young man's mind, it's so unfortunate that he persisted with what to me is a siucidal plan. Just when you think you've figured out mother nature and her moods, you learn that she's not to be underestimated. How sad for his loved ones.
I know this trail. In fact my photo is taken on Kancamagus Highway with my BMW GS. I've hiked & camped in sub zero temperatures where on my last night I only had enough fuel to thaw out my food enough to eat it cold. Without snow shoes, a 0° F bag & plenty of layers of wool you're playing Russian roulette. I have a Zoleo satellite communication device (wife's insistence), compases & maps. I even carry crampons, carabiners & rope in case of emergencies. For a smart guy he really didn't do his research.
When he stated that he began his hike at 11 am. I’m like that’s late as hell for an 8 mile hike in tough terrain. Latest to start would be 6:30 to even have enough day light.
I planned the exact same hike in late October. I got to tree line and dawned my gogles. Wind and snowing we aborted the ridge run. I know first hand the dangers. I'm amazed at the risk people take either intentionally or unknowingly.
If you use your cellphone for navigation, pls bring a powerbank with several charges because the navigation is draining the battery very fast (even more in the cold) and never underestimate how much snow is slowing down the hike.
My ex took me our daughter and my mum on , what he said was a light hike for two hours in the Blue mountains (Australia). Five and a half hours later, he hid from me cause I was seriously going to injure him. Always be sure what your getting into re hiking.❤
As a marathon runner, I would run alone for up to 6 hours from the downtown of a city to the suburbs (wooded area with less people) and back downtown. I get lost and scared when I run till 1am at night. Luckily, I always bring a credit card with me so I can catch a taxi if I get lost. Or take the night bus. I can even go to a 24 hour convenient store and grab some food if I'm hungry. Maybe even stay at a nearby hotel. I can't imagine how much more scarier it is to be hiking up miles to a mountain alone without any access to a bus or food and water if you get lost. I already freak out running 40km outside of my neighborhood alone at night.
Young people who have grown up since 1990 in the overly-litigious aftermath of the 1980's seem to have normalized that IF anything is dangerous, there must be a sign or some sort of "internal" sense that something would be dangerous. I don't think we have any of our post 1995 babies any favours in the interest of keeping them safe. All we have managed to do is give them the sense that nothing is dangerous if it isn't obvious because someone or something will magically swoop in and let you know somehow. Throw in a dash of "'m gonna live forever" youth cologne and you have a 20 something hiking in the winter alone thinking, Itll' be fine!
Well. I went hiking in the Catskill Mountains. It was supposed to be an evening walk on a road around a lake, but I decided to enter a trail. I had nothing - no map, no flashlight, no food, no jacket. I got lost, so I decided to go back. It was already late. I had to spend the night in the forest as it was impossible to find the trail without a flashlight. But, contrary to the story here, it was in June :) I must have a good guardian angel because at the moment I was back on the road, a heavy rain started.
I went to Mt. Washington for a winter hiking alone in 2022. I tried to take the lion head trail, but when I reached the point people called Hillary Step, I bailed after hesitating for a long time. I went back the next winter, but this time I was with a guide. I felt so fortunate I turned back last time because I really underestimated the difficulty of the trail. Mt. Washington is NO joke during the winter!!! PS: I do appreciate my guide Anne who helped me reached the summit!
Being above the treeline is no joke in winter. My pic is from just below treeline on Mt Chocorua NH on a frigid day in March 2017, and it’s a completely different world once you take those steps. -40ish wind chill above, warm enough (-5F or so) to hike with a silkweight baselayer & midweight merino top below. I stopped maybe 100m from the summit because the boots I wore didn’t feel very stable on the icy rocks, even with spikes. The mountain wasn’t going anywhere, after all!
I recently did this exact loop but up Falling Waters and down Bridal. Definitely not for beginners not only for length but especially in winter your completely exposed on that ridge. If weather rolls in you could be in big trouble.
I have grown up hiking the Whites year round. Underestimation of these mountains is rampant among people visiting because the mountains are all less than 6300ft. The trails are rough and the weather can be unforgiving. Hell I have gotten snowed on in June in the Whites before. Not to mention Mt Washington actually being one of the deadliest mountains in the USA. The wind can also be terrible when ridge walking or at summits year round. I could see how he lost his way at the top. Condolences to Guopeng Li's family, AND please be mindful when hiking here.
He made a truly Stolpa move. Reference snow bound. Young army couple and infant Clay got stuck in snow. Tried to hike out n got lost. They survived. Clay Stolpa is grown now and his parents lost a few toes.
He pushed his body and life past the limit. We will all reach our limit sooner or later. He just reached it sooner than most people. No tragedy. He made his decision and lived his life.
I cannot believe that Lee ended up in the same scenario as did Emily, who died in the same area a month earlier. Her death was all over the news and many rangers stated the importance of being properly dressed and prepared for these type of dangerous, off season hikes. If it takes an average of 8 hours to complete this trail in the summer time, under perfect conditions, he had no chance at all of completing this hike, during the daytime hours. Many hikers today still rely completely on theirs phones for information and communication, instead of providing the basic necessities needed. Many times there is no cell phone coverage in these remote areas and their phones become dead, in the process.
I am most impressed with that team of bright eyed and bushy tailed rescuers. But so sad when they found the young man. So did he perish from the cold or did he fall into a creek?
He perished from the cold. The WM are known for extreme wind and cold. He was probably freezing even in the sun while walking above the tree line. He succumbed to the elements. It’s rare to find the person the same day and they perished to the elements. That should give you an idea of how cold it gets up there
What immediately came to me in the first few minutes was his late start time. Ideally, should not have done this for the first time alone or had done it with someone else so they could have started in the dark with headlamps. Then, at 6:33, he is shown to be leaving the ridge in the complete opposite direction of the basically N-S road which goes through Franconia Notch. A $15 compass and only a basic modicum of knowledge would have put him in the direction of the road, got him off the ridge and possibly saved his life. Just like Hugh Herr who tragically went off the backside of Mount Washington into the Great Gulf rather than towards the road through Pinkham Notch. Both did not require pinpoint navigation, but they did require orientation in the right direction.
I’ve hiked the white mountains many times. And went to Umass Amherst. Even joined the same club he was part of. I hiked the white mountains in 2022. It’s honestly kind of crazy to imagine someone dying in these areas. Although hiking there on Christmas is a very different story for many
i did many hikes in the white mts even in the summer and got lost numerous times missing a turn on the trails, but if your in the dark and the ground is snow covered there is no sure way to follow a trail without a GPS and once that fails when the battery dies then you have to just guess where to go and blaze your own trail.. anyway i recently noticed night time hiking is very popular in the white mtns as when i would often return to the trailhead at or after sunset i still see many others who are just starting out and going up the trails..
Group think is equally dangerous when members are inexperienced and possibly more dangerous because typically a person with more confidence can persuade the group to do something when the best course might be to do nothing or vice versa.
David Paulides / CamAm Missing Project (ch) - Missing 411 always states NEVER hike alone. Always carry an 'activated' PLB (personal locator beacon) and by all means know the conditions prior to heading out and take proper equipment and clothing. Do not take chances !!!
Call me old fashioned but I think it's exceptionally poor taste to put ads in a video which is describing a young persons tragic and totally innocent death.
I always bring enough equipment to stay out for many days. I plan for mishaps or injuries. You must be able to survive the extreme conditions while not moving. Lot’s of extra clothes and many days worth of calories. Etc etc. So far I haven’t needed the emergency supplies but I always carry them. Better some extra weight and a safety margin.
This ine hits a vit different. My condolences to the famil. I will never pretent to understanding how it is in an Asian home, but the parents wanted him to have a better life abroad. To see him dying spreading his wings abroad brings the onions out. He lives, Im grateful that. I hope everyone out there is living, but reducing the risks while doing so, with whatever calls you.
Have hiked that loop several time falling waters trail is not recommended in adverse weather very steep rock to rock do not know how you could safely travel in icy conditions wet summer conditions make it very slippery
The most important thing anyone can take out of this is do not rely on a cell phone for anything obviously he thought because he had a connection with his family member that was going to be his partner as far as another hiker and always always have the ability to start a fire and the knowledge of how to do that in any condition and how to make a Windbreak another words you need to have a lot of knowledge before you set off into the woods by yourself for a all-day hike or even a half day hike Anyway what I'm saying is there's enough deaths out there for no reason but being in the wrong place at the wrong time or some crazy local or a bear attack which is another thing you should always carry some sort of protection if you're in better territory even if you're not staying overnight and carrying food always carry more water than you think you'll need and my last advice never leave anything behind except for your footprints and maybe a stack of rocks marking your accomplishment just don't make it look like a trail marker
My idea of spending Christmas alone is w fireplace blazing, my ass glued to the couch clutching my ipad w a cup of hot tea watching my cats chasing each other, wondering why ppl would go on a hike alone in the dead of winter w only their phone. Sounds suicidal or just overly optimistic or overestimating oneself. Not sure.
That’s the classical method of teaching - they tell you what they’re going to teach you, then they teach you, then they tell you what they just taught you.
Whoa go to hike up a mountain at least 8 hours long in dead of winter, no winter gear no flashlight and started at 11am. Have cellphone and GPS, but didn't ask for help and just let the battery die.
The average death tool in the area is around 22, but I believe most are middle aged to senior men having medical events (heart attack, stroke, etc) in a remote area and dying before they can get medical help. Then there are falls and accidental drownings. So not all of the deaths are like this case. You might get several of them per year. -cases similar to this where the person didn't have enough gear in the winter, and didn't have the skills, so he gets lost and dies of hypothermia.
I used to camp out alone in the winter at 15,000 ft for 10 days at a time. Always hope for the best and prepare for the worst. I'm not a survival expert, not even close. My camping gear includes a bong and a big bag of weed. All it takes is a little common sense in your preparation and you'll be fine.
@@ArcFixer Mount Charleston Peak I just looked it up I accidentally lied it's 11900 feet. I thought it was 15,000 but when I just looked it up I was wrong. 12000 ft is high enough to make my point though. It was an honest mistake. I really did think it was 15,000 feet.
@@darksoul479 That makes more sense. There are only six mountains in the United States that are fifteen thousand feet or higher. But you seem to be saying you camped on the summit of Charleston Peak for 10 days. I can't imagine why anyone would camp on the peak of a 12000 ft mountain. What would you do during the day? Climb down and go fishing? Then climb back up and freeze your ass off all night? : )
This happened a month after a girl died on the same route. Same sort of thing. Not prepared for the harsh weather changes, they get blown off the trail and succumb.
As someone who has underestimated a solo hike in the winter and found out that my winter tent, sleeping bag and clothes weren't enough, what got me through the night was the emergency blanket. Not only does it take absolutely no space, but it was the first time I used it and I was shocked how well it worked, it actually made me feel hot, not just warm. It was a lifesaver, takes no space nor weight, please, always have one on your backpack pockets, you never know when you'll need it.
Good call, my wife keeps a couple in the trunk of her car
@@desdicadoricyes it’s good to keep one in the car.
Happy you survived that horrible experience!
What's special about an emergency blanket
@@eyeswideopen7777 the material doesn’t allow heat to escape.
The rescuers really are unsung heroes, selflessly venturing out in such conditions, at potential great risk to themselves, for the sole purpose of going to the aid of a stranger. Bravo, team. We salute you. 👍
Very well said…. 👏🏾
unsung? nah
It's such a relief that the rescue teams have a group of people. Thank god. They need to be safe too 😢
I've hiked in the White Mountains with friends and they told me about Franconia Ridge being tough even in the summer. I would not do it in the winter. People don't realize how cold it gets at the top of these mountains in the winter.
RIP Guopeng
It's doable. Lot of people do. Has to be done with proper gear and plan after checking the weather forecast. Not by starting at 11 AM. 11 AM is too late for a winter day hike like Franconia.
I remember when I hiked mt elden with a friend in the winter and I’ll never forget how suddenly the temperate changes when you get to the top and have 0 wind cover, and since then I always respect the cold
he started the hike way too late. when you do a solo hike, especially in the winter, you want to be the first one out there before 6am so that you are not the last one off the mountain in case something happens and so that you are not hiking in the dark.
Hiking in the dark is no problem if you have headlamps and spare batteries. Use lithium batteries instead of alkaline if your light isn’t rechargeable, lithiums handle cold better (but will give slightly lower light output.)
Depends on the length of the hike. If it's a short hike, you can start as late as 2 PM. If it's a long one, you should start at around sunrise.
Well they said it was a 8 hour hike in the summer. So it would have been 7:00 at night in a ideal situation. Unfortunately he started out late. Didn't even bring any light source to guide him at night
If he was doing the Bridle Path/Franconia Ridge/Falling Waters loop (I can’t remember) it may be 8 hours in winter but it’s nowhere near 8 in summer. Greenleaf instead of Bridle Path adds a little, but not much. Falling Waters to Little Haystack & back down is about 2/3 the length of the loop, I’m a fat slow hiker and I did that in about 4 hours on Labor Day weekend.
I did this trail over the summer on the longest day of the year. We started around 9 and got back just before nightfall. fucking wild hike took like 11 hrs lol
I got lost on Mount Madison in the dead of winter. Never been colder in my life-winter hiking is not for me. Made it to the road at around 1am. A “pro” hiker invited me to come with him and it was one of the worst mistakes I ever made. So glad I survived it.
The pro hiker had other motives or what? Glad to hear you got out safe
@@BadThrusher no, he wasn’t murderous, just overestimating his capacity and I was young and he made it sound easy, didn’t even help me to check if I had the right gear
@@mitch.el420That guy sounds like a buffoon.
Glad you made it out
White people love looking for trouble. Why would you be hiking on a cold mountain?
I’d consider myself a relatively experienced hiker and these “hiker goes missing” events serve as a reminder to me that the White Mountains can be incredibly unforgiving even in the warmer months. These things happen and are tragic but If you go hiking in the White Mountains make sure you are well prepared and only hike when the weather conditions are favorable. But please understand the weather can quickly become unpredictable and dangerous at anytime. This particular hiking loop can be a wonderful and enchanting experience but you must be experienced and prepared for it especially in the winter and or if your hiking all alone.
2023 Thru hiked the Appalachian Trail and the Whites had some of the most difficult terrain I encountered on the trail. Steep ascents and descents and though I was well equipped - well as well equipped as someone hiking the AT and concerned about weight could be, I was always watching my weather app, examining my distance, and had a clear goal of where I wanted to stop for the night and a plan B if I couldn't do the miles I wanted. The Whites are no joke, regardless of the time of the year. I want to go back and hike short sections just to enjoy the beauty. All I saw on my hike was two feet in front of my toes.
He wasn't the first and he won't be the last to underestimate that mountain and pay for it. Winter conditions are not for the inexperienced or unprepared.
Wow! It’s like the said the same thing in the video.
Agreed. Those winter conditions are barely for the very experienced. And definitely not solo.
Agree winter hiking need a lot of experience and solo hiker need to make partner on the mountain
I live in Nashua, NH. My husband & I hike often. We have hike safe cards & are well prepared. I see all the time in my hiking groups on Facebook that people think these trails are easy & can just be done by anyone. Even the danger in the summer is underestimated by the tourists. It's sad seeing these stories in the news all the time.
Lol its not sad, its natural selection catching up with r3tards...
@artinthefamily9549
What is sad, it that you actually have a "hiking card" and still use evil Fakebook....
I stayed with my friend Rob who’s from Nashua one night in late spring, and it was COLD. I can’t imagine going hiking without gear there.
Even a parking lot is deadly in the cold if you can't find your way out of it.
Once I have to climb something I'm going home.
Going out alone in winter is ridiculous. He was supposedly prepared but left so late in the day and didn't have extra clothing? 2023 and people are still making the same mistakes
If you have the right gear and know how to use it, an honest appraisal of your own ability & skills, and are willing to turn back without having summited, solo hiking in winter is only slightly more dangerous than summer hiking.
Some have inadequate supplies. Go equipped enough to help rescue.
Camp nearby first, to discover what could be done better.
Exactly, all you have to do it a little research and you can learn everything you need to.
It depends on where u live or where ur going. In this area of course, but where i live (germany) i do it all the time.
I won't even look outside a window by myself. It's dangerous 😳!!! 😶
As a very experienced long distance backpacker the biggest issue I have with using your phone for navigation is the touch screen. In poor weather it’s next to useless. I take the pass code off my phone to make logging in a little easier. Still the touch screens are a big issue in poor weather. It’s a much bigger issue than the battery. I have a battery backup. I was hiking the Long Trail in Vermont this summer and the weather was extremely wet, nonstop rain and super high humidity. I was also out of cell range when they predicted that massive rain storm that caused many areas of Vermont to flood. They received over 10 inches of rain in about 12 hours. I actually feel very fortunate to have gotten out alive. A man on the AT about 50 miles from me drowned. Things can and do happen.
Seems a little dry bag like I use kayaking would help in that situation. It's about 9" when closed and has a plastic window allowing use of the touch screen. You can fit a decent amount of absolute essentials.
Then again, this does little for navigation and lighting in the event of a phone failure.
@@joemadda Thanks I will check that out. Take care
As an longtime experienced touch screen phone user. I don’t need you to explain it to me.
Yep. And if your battery is older, then it will drain even faster in the cold and will charge slower.
Can you recommend which kind of bake up battery I should use?
Knowing and respecting Mother Nature is a must for survival on our beautiful blue planet.
Kudos to SAR who risk their own lives when they have to go searching for people who go ill- prepared into the wilderness.
And on Christmas of all days!
Wrong. It is the existence of these rescue groups that give the appearance that help will come if something goes wrong. It would be better to send the message that if something goes wrong, you're on your own and you will die. That will make hikers much more cautious and self reliant.
Theses groups should be called Body Collection Groups and only start out two or three days after the person is reported lost.
@@herberthall8082 I understand your sentiments but who should SAR decide who they go searching for and try to rescue?
What should SAR have done in the case of the missing & snowbound husband & wife & child who were lost in the Oregon wilderness for a week when they took a wrong turn? Just leave them out there to find their own way out because the adults made a bad decision?
After all, we're all human and no one wants to turn their back on someone and just let them die to teach them a lesson for their poor decisions.
Kudos is getting kind of old now. Stop using that stupid word it’s embarrassing .
@@herberthall8082 Yeah, and knowing the greatly increased risk of cancer made people stop smoking cigarettes. People stopped driving without seatbelts when they found out how much more likely you are to survive a crash wearing one. And just think of how much money we could save if there wasn’t a 911 to call if you were being assaulted, your house was burning, etc. “Take care of it yourself or die.”
Thousands of times people are told to wear appropriate clothing, gear and the knowledge and skill set before going out hiking.
Particularly if a person is from a warmer climate, they can have little understanding of the actual clothing needed. I lived in N. Canada, so am well aware of the kind of clothing needed to be warm at -40. It's not uncommon for travelers to buy winter clothing where they live, and then if traveling to someplace significantly colder, not have sufficient clothing to be warm. I lived in Singapore for a decade, which is on the equator. What you'd see in stores as a 'winter coat' would qualify as a spring/fall coat in Canada.
The problem is, you don’t know whether you have the skills until you’re in a spot where you need them. Something I read in another comment went like “life is a hard teacher, it gives you the test first and then teaches the lesson if you pass.”
I’ve done Mt Washington and Mt LaFayette.. It can be 75 and sunny at the bottom and 40 (colder with windchill) and storming at top! Must dress in layers and never hike it alone!
Those things apply in the summer. The winter is much much much more extreme.
A day hike can become a campout that lasts several days. Food, water, a sleeping bag, pad, and tent are needed.
And a compass, light, a power bank, satellite gps and a good map. Family of mine got stuck on a summer day trip. It wouldn't have been a big deal if it weren't bear territory.
Maybe add a hatchet in case a make shift shelter is needed. Also good for chopping wood for a fire. Add lighters or matches.
Physical, paper maps, folks. They make them waterproof. Carry them, and know how to read them, and review all the trail junctions in advance. I cannot imagine relying 100% on a device with a battery.
I read a comment on ig saying paper maps are obsolete. I'm sure that person will be a victim of their own circumstances soon.
I know, someone should teach kids how to read an atlas. We used to get the triple A trip tiks but I still always have a backup/ hard copy plan
Having a paper map makes seeing the big picture much easier than it is on a screen the size of a playing card. And familiarize yourself with the surrounding area on the map, including landmarks not on your route. Learn how to correlate what you see on a map with what’s around you, and don’t forget tree cover will make things look different than they do on the map. I’m so glad I learned map & compass back in the 80s in Boy Scouts and the army, and had plenty of opportunity to practice it.
Noway! My new Samsung galaxy phone is guaranteed to get me through 1 full day, with GPS! And my watch ⌚️ is backup. It can be charges via sun 🌞 and has GPS and emergency capabilities. 😶
@@alphaomega1351 Assuming hat is sarcasm!!
I am sorry for his death and his family's loss/pain. However, I hate that one person's actions can put a rescue team in danger especially at Christmas when the rescue team should have been spending time with their family not searching for a stranger whose selfishness and idiotic put himself in danger.
People nowadays need to have common sense and have to think carefully before making decisions because their decisions will affect a lot of people such as his family, friends coworkers and the rescue teams.
We all make bad decisions some times, maby you're bad decision is coming
Well, the fact is rescue teams aren’t really called out to help tons of people who make sensible decisions and are prepared.
It’s the name of the game.
thats y we called..rescue team..
@@jjwh Everyone who set out and wound up in trouble thought it was a sensible decision
i mean, that's literally their job. I'm a doctor and there was a ~7yr stretch when i was working every single Christmas. should i be blaming all my patients for making the poor choices that landed them in the hospital too? are you going to promise me that if you have an emergency on Christmas, you're just gonna stay home and die? 🤨 don't be heartless.
Boston born and bred, the mountains of NH, VT, Maine are beautiful but you have to be prepared for the worse, especially my Washington, any mountain, weather flips on a dime, hypothermia is a killer
Sorry about the Boston part!
The hike takes 8 hours in the summer. So it should naturally take longer in the winter. Very ill-prepared and uninformed of the trail. I’m going to hike that ridge loop next week but I’ve been preparing since May. Such a sad story
Leave very early in morning, bring extra clothing as if you may encounter winter conditions (because you may), bring a Garmin if have one, bring what you need to spend night on mountain in cold if you needed to, bring extra food, winter hat & gloves, etc. Have fun!
Preparing months for an 8 mile hike 🤨 I’d wake up and shit out a hike longer than that any day.
No, don't go! I had a dream that the bears 🐻 are going to eat you!!! 😶
Can I find out how long a hike can take for different mountains on the net?
In no way should that hike take 8 hours unless you're disabled or 90 years old.
He had many friends here speaking highly of him. "Mr. Li was a very wonderful man who cared greatly for his cat Mimi. He always treated us with respect and kindness. I am very sad to hear this news, and very sorry for the loved ones who treasured him."
$27,893 raised of $30,000 goal
Too bad that when he was a member of his college's hiking club he didn't go on some winter hikes with them. He would have had a better idea of what to bring and what his hiking speed would have been in winter conditions. Also this video is very vague about what the weather conditions actually were. Was there a storm? How cold did it get? What was the wind speed? Did he go out in spite of a bad forecast? He certainly made more than one mistake in this tragedy. Most of his bad decisions were made before he ever started the hike, but he should have known to abort the hike and turn around just by how slow his progress was.
I wondered the same thing. If he enjoyed spending time and some hiking when he was in China he should have understood that feces occur.
At the hiking club, undoubtedly they discussed basic safety measures. Plus he lived in Boston and certainly knew it gets cold, snowy, and even icy in winter. I live in the South and even I know that!
It’s New England, where weather forecast can and do literally change within hours. And in the White Mountains, it can change within minutes. Doesn’t matter what the weather forecast said, I’d expect more sense out of someone who lived here for 4-5 years.
The White Mountains are always windy. In places like that you feel it in your bones. It’s too bad he lost his life. If you go solo hiking in the winter you should bring enough gear to survive the night in the elements.
@@BoxStudioExecutivesounds a bit like ‘old’ England, every season in one day
I agree. Some details are missing. If you're part of a hiking club, I would say he was not ill-prepared. However, it is perplexing that he did an 8-hour hike starting late in the day. Something is amss.
At 8:15 it says that the average annual death toll in this region is 22. That number is correct for search and rescue missions but it includes the entire State of New Hampshire and includes drownings, other accidents and even suicides.
I’m not a mountaineer, but why did he start out at 11AM? Instead at the crack of dawn?
He didn’t realize the danger and paid for it
me and my friends always start around 8 or 9 in the morning
Heart breaking story. As an avid solo hiker I often hear and read this kind of nightmare story. RIP my friend Li.😢
I get the joy of a solo hike nobody to answer to but I always think of the family members who are crushed when ppl don’t take their own lives seriously..take a buddy.
Then don’t be dumb like him.
@@MN-br5nb
Na. I’ll just take the right equipment.
we don't need a "buddy" we just need to be informed, prepared and realistic...@@MN-br5nb
@@MN-br5nbno, there’s nothing wrong with solo hikes at all. I’m the cold a friend would be very little help to me. If I could magically make an experienced sherpa apppear I would but my friends end up being more I have to deal with in a situation like this.
This channel is great because as you narrate you show footage, rather than just straight up narrating looking at the camera. Thank you.
Mount Washington is well known to have wildly fluctuating weather. If you hike there and don't prepare for the unknown then you will be in serious trouble. Be aware and be awake.
I always wonder why extremely intelligent people take risk that could so easily turn out none fatal.
Bookintelligents are often not practically that intelligent.
Being intelligent doesn't mean you're intelligent in all parts of the life.
@@principecaprincipeca2243I think you summed it up perfectly sir
You don't have to be stupid to act stupid.
Ego!
@@shahonchen6661 ego too far!
Similar to the family that perished in AZ desert heat w:no H20, hiking in 120* w/baby ! Tragic but preventable.
I recently came across that familys story; I agree..this is the same type of ignorance.
I know right?
Rookies. They put others lives in danger.
I can understand that you don't care about your own life, but think about the rescuers.
Really admire to SAR team... They leave their family in Christmas day to save an uprepared hiker
as someone whos done the franconia ridge in the winter, its almost impossible to bring "too much" extra gear. temperatures when I did it got to around -60F with windchill, and was quite windy, though luckily it was a very clear day and had no real issues besides the top of my head being a little cold through my hat. If youre inexperienced, I would highly recommend doing some easier winter hikes before doing something like the Franconia ridge. Plenty of other beautiful scenery to be seen throughout the white mountains!
Poor soul R.I.P! I did that same hike back in late September, 2021 It took us a little more than 6 hours to complete with good weather conditions. About an hour to finish we encountered 3 ladies a little off course, it was dark already they didn’t have flashlights, their cellphones were about to run out of battery and it was getting cold. They were so happy that we were able to help them! These type of hike are woundeful but you do need to be prepared because things could go wrong.
In certain national parks of Thailand there are warnings put out stating that you are not allowed to travel beyond certain points beyond a set time. Not a bad idea.
I am very happy they don’t do that here. Live free or die is NH state saying. It’s on their license plate. People hike and ski that area all the time. Another young person died in that area in November of the same year. She was a trial runner. Dressed poorly and lacking years of experience. I should not be limited by their inexperience and lack of knowledge.
@@mtadams2009 I agree. We should never stop Darwin diving away his rewards.
@@mtadams2009not only that, but some of us go at unconventional times to catch a sunset, meteor shower, eclipses (both lunar and solar).
I had a girl friend in NYC who was from Calgary, Alberta, and she was an ice climbing maniac. She told be how brutal the White Mts of New Hamshire are. If she says something like that, you know it. Later on I climbed Mt Kathadin in Maine, and that was pretty easy for a day run.
When I was early 20s around 2010, I hike Mount Washington with few friend (I believe was from west side)
The hike was not hard, but I am pretty heavy weight (My friend usually helps me to bring 1 gallon water in their backpack for me, we are very good friends).
But I had trouble to go up the last 200 feet to the top (may be thin air). So, I asked them to go without me. That was almost 5PM..
Was a huge mistake, it was late October, and it is gets dark around 5:45PM.. And there is no cell phone signal. I still can see them up there and I yell that I can go down mountain before dark and they also exhausted up there and wanted to do cable cart or rail.
I waited until 6ish and they are still up there and I started to feel it is getting too dark for me to go down, I only had a very small flashlight (consider like iPhone 6 flashlight). I had to go down, there part of the hike there has dangerous slope and there is gap I have to jump through...
I was slowly getting down thought my friends were taking cart... and believe or not, being Asian, I have so many ghost stories (like the ring) whatsoever and there is almost no light. So when I needed to take a break, I just sit down and close my eyes (lol) that won't run my imagination wide. Eventually I got down around 9ish (But there were two hikers went up around 8ish that I encountered, I thought was just hikers).. After I went down, started my car drink some water and started calling my friends)....
Just about calling my friends, there is pick up truck just park behind me and there was park ranger/crew came to me asked questions. So, I found out what happened after I slowly get down by myself.
One of my friend (A) had strength left actually came down to the area I was (200 feet away from the summit) few times to look for me. another friend (B) stayed at the cafe at the summit but the cafe was closed (Only one cleaning crew there), but we lost contact, so the friend (A) looked for me came down few times didn't find me and went back up. My another sit next to closed cafe and start to feel he should go down, so friend B went down along with the auto road. And friend A couldn't locate me and got scared and call the park ranger phone. He got pick up by a ranger truck near by the summit I believed (He might have come down himself but I don't remember the detail.
So the two hikers went up encountered me around 1/3 way to the entrance can be looking for me...
And we were brought to the room and got the lesson (I am appreciated being yelled at that time)
When I go camping or hiking and I pack more extra stuff than needed people always think I’m crazy, better to have it and not need it than need it and not have it
They don't understand wisdom 😂
This is definitely the first time I heard someone started hiking at 11am
Never hike alone, never hike with not enough gear ,without a light, without a map,and never start too late during winter months. I have heard of many missing hikers that ended up this way because of these combinations ,Stay safe 🙏🏻
I have hiked alone SO many times, but that was prior to seeing all of these stories on UA-cam about hikers dying. They are on their own 9 times out of 10. Really makes me rethink some things.
He started WELL after when he should have AND he went backwards on the way he should have. You really should NOT descend Falling Waters trail in Winter, or ever really. PemiSAR actually refers to this trail as Falling Bodies trail because so many people get themselves into trouble and fall due to how steep and wet this trail is. The Ridge is NOT a place for hikers making poor decisions like this man. It's a very exposed and dangerous place if you don't know what you are doing. At least a few people die every year on this trail.
This is why I always stay close to civilization.
It's just a matter of having common sense.
That's so boring
@@duancoviero9759Why? Everyone should know their comfort zone and limits
Come to Dorchester.
Very civilized lol
But... but... civilization is no longer civilized! 😶
Whatever was going through this young man's mind, it's so unfortunate that he persisted with what to me is a siucidal plan. Just when you think you've figured out mother nature and her moods, you learn that she's not to be underestimated. How sad for his loved ones.
Thank you Tragic Tales.
Nature has no remorse for unprepared people. This person was very unprepared, and shouldn't have even been out there at that time of year.
RIP Julian Sands as well.
I know this trail. In fact my photo is taken on Kancamagus Highway with my BMW GS. I've hiked & camped in sub zero temperatures where on my last night I only had enough fuel to thaw out my food enough to eat it cold. Without snow shoes, a 0° F bag & plenty of layers of wool you're playing Russian roulette. I have a Zoleo satellite communication device (wife's insistence), compases & maps. I even carry crampons, carabiners & rope in case of emergencies. For a smart guy he really didn't do his research.
You are so cool man. 🥹
When he stated that he began his hike at 11 am. I’m like that’s late as hell for an 8 mile hike in tough terrain. Latest to start would be 6:30 to even have enough day light.
How can I calculate how much a hike takes ?
@@Assia131experience
And the hike would have taken double time in winter vs summer hiking
It ceases to amaze me when you hear these stories how so under prepared these people are especially in mid winter in exposed places ..
I planned the exact same hike in late October. I got to tree line and dawned my gogles. Wind and snowing we aborted the ridge run. I know first hand the dangers. I'm amazed at the risk people take either intentionally or unknowingly.
Yeah ok, I think you mean “donned” as in to put on. Brother. And this bot isn’t doing any favors. Rte 93, not 3. Sheesh. Next
If you use your cellphone for navigation, pls bring a powerbank with several charges because the navigation is draining the battery very fast (even more in the cold) and never underestimate how much snow is slowing down the hike.
That place is no joke. By far the highlight of my 2004 AT thru hike
My ex took me our daughter and my mum on , what he said was a light hike for two hours in the Blue mountains (Australia). Five and a half hours later, he hid from me cause I was seriously going to injure him. Always be sure what your getting into re hiking.❤
As a marathon runner, I would run alone for up to 6 hours from the downtown of a city to the suburbs (wooded area with less people) and back downtown. I get lost and scared when I run till 1am at night. Luckily, I always bring a credit card with me so I can catch a taxi if I get lost. Or take the night bus. I can even go to a 24 hour convenient store and grab some food if I'm hungry. Maybe even stay at a nearby hotel. I can't imagine how much more scarier it is to be hiking up miles to a mountain alone without any access to a bus or food and water if you get lost. I already freak out running 40km outside of my neighborhood alone at night.
Young people who have grown up since 1990 in the overly-litigious aftermath of the 1980's seem to have normalized that IF anything is dangerous, there must be a sign or some sort of "internal" sense that something would be dangerous. I don't think we have any of our post 1995 babies any favours in the interest of keeping them safe. All we have managed to do is give them the sense that nothing is dangerous if it isn't obvious because someone or something will magically swoop in and let you know somehow. Throw in a dash of "'m gonna live forever" youth cologne and you have a 20 something hiking in the winter alone thinking, Itll' be fine!
There are signs and warnings of danger.
m.psecn.photoshelter.com/img-get/I00009V.lIQJZ_GY/s/700/600/SCD3972-06.jpg
Well. I went hiking in the Catskill Mountains. It was supposed to be an evening walk on a road around a lake, but I decided to enter a trail. I had nothing - no map, no flashlight, no food, no jacket. I got lost, so I decided to go back. It was already late. I had to spend the night in the forest as it was impossible to find the trail without a flashlight. But, contrary to the story here, it was in June :) I must have a good guardian angel because at the moment I was back on the road, a heavy rain started.
😢 the 11am start time was way too late
Relying on a cellphone while hiking in winter, is a death wish
R I.P. young man
I went to Mt. Washington for a winter hiking alone in 2022. I tried to take the lion head trail, but when I reached the point people called Hillary Step, I bailed after hesitating for a long time. I went back the next winter, but this time I was with a guide. I felt so fortunate I turned back last time because I really underestimated the difficulty of the trail. Mt. Washington is NO joke during the winter!!! PS: I do appreciate my guide Anne who helped me reached the summit!
Being above the treeline is no joke in winter. My pic is from just below treeline on Mt Chocorua NH on a frigid day in March 2017, and it’s a completely different world once you take those steps. -40ish wind chill above, warm enough (-5F or so) to hike with a silkweight baselayer & midweight merino top below. I stopped maybe 100m from the summit because the boots I wore didn’t feel very stable on the icy rocks, even with spikes. The mountain wasn’t going anywhere, after all!
You sound like a very smart hiker, with a lot of common sense and aware of your limits. I'm glad you made it to the summit!
I recently did this exact loop but up Falling Waters and down Bridal. Definitely not for beginners not only for length but especially in winter your completely exposed on that ridge. If weather rolls in you could be in big trouble.
I am confused about his itinerary. Did he plan on going counter-clockwise on the trail, but then went clockwise instead? Would it have mattered?
I have grown up hiking the Whites year round. Underestimation of these mountains is rampant among people visiting because the mountains are all less than 6300ft. The trails are rough and the weather can be unforgiving. Hell I have gotten snowed on in June in the Whites before. Not to mention Mt Washington actually being one of the deadliest mountains in the USA. The wind can also be terrible when ridge walking or at summits year round. I could see how he lost his way at the top.
Condolences to Guopeng Li's family, AND please be mindful when hiking here.
He made a truly Stolpa move. Reference snow bound. Young army couple and infant Clay got stuck in snow. Tried to hike out n got lost. They survived. Clay Stolpa is grown now and his parents lost a few toes.
Hiking there in December? With the well-known weather history of the White Mountains, you’re just asking for a bad ending.
Wow! About 20 people a year die hiking here. That's crazy!
He pushed his body and life past the limit. We will all reach our limit sooner or later. He just reached it sooner than most people.
No tragedy. He made his decision and lived his life.
I cannot believe that Lee ended up in the same scenario as did Emily, who died in the same area a month earlier. Her death was all over the news and many rangers stated the importance of being properly dressed and prepared for these type of dangerous, off season hikes. If it takes an average of 8 hours to complete this trail in the summer time, under perfect conditions, he had no chance at all of completing this hike, during the daytime hours. Many hikers today still rely completely on theirs phones for information and communication, instead of providing the basic necessities needed. Many times there is no cell phone coverage in these remote areas and their phones become dead, in the process.
It’s definitely a sport where your life is in your equipment’s hands. No time to be frugal.
its not a sport. you dont ' play ' hiking. also your equipment is only as good as you are.
Always , be prepared. Prayers for all your family. OVERPACK...FOOD,CLOTHS. ETC.
I am most impressed with that team of bright eyed and bushy tailed rescuers. But so sad when they found the young man. So did he perish from the cold or did he fall into a creek?
He perished from the cold. The WM are known for extreme wind and cold. He was probably freezing even in the sun while walking above the tree line. He succumbed to the elements. It’s rare to find the person the same day and they perished to the elements. That should give you an idea of how cold it gets up there
@@washedupwarvet2027 Thank you. Sounds about right.
What immediately came to me in the first few minutes was his late start time. Ideally, should not have done this for the first time alone or had done it with someone else so they could have started in the dark with headlamps. Then, at 6:33, he is shown to be leaving the ridge in the complete opposite direction of the basically N-S road which goes through Franconia Notch. A $15 compass and only a basic modicum of knowledge would have put him in the direction of the road, got him off the ridge and possibly saved his life. Just like Hugh Herr who tragically went off the backside of Mount Washington into the Great Gulf rather than towards the road through Pinkham Notch. Both did not require pinpoint navigation, but they did require orientation in the right direction.
I’ve hiked the white mountains many times. And went to Umass Amherst. Even joined the same club he was part of. I hiked the white mountains in 2022. It’s honestly kind of crazy to imagine someone dying in these areas. Although hiking there on Christmas is a very different story for many
Wow you want a purple heart for that ?
@@doofmaczemy 🤕
i did many hikes in the white mts even in the summer and got lost numerous times missing a turn on the trails, but if your in the dark and the ground is snow covered there is no sure way to follow a trail without a GPS and once that fails when the battery dies then you have to just guess where to go and blaze your own trail.. anyway i recently noticed night time hiking is very popular in the white mtns as when i would often return to the trailhead at or after sunset i still see many others who are just starting out and going up the trails..
How come? That's very dangerous
Group think is equally dangerous when members are inexperienced and possibly more dangerous because typically a person with more confidence can persuade the group to do something when the best course might be to do nothing or vice versa.
Man overestimates his abilities, and Mother Nature says "make my day"...
Starting at 11 AM on a winter day is a really really bad plan. If I remember right, this was a day there were weather warnings?
David Paulides / CamAm Missing Project (ch) - Missing 411 always states NEVER hike alone. Always carry an 'activated' PLB (personal locator beacon) and by all means know the conditions prior to heading out and take proper equipment and clothing. Do not take chances !!!
Call me old fashioned but I think it's exceptionally poor taste to put ads in a video which is describing a young persons tragic and totally innocent death.
I always bring enough equipment to stay out for many days. I plan for mishaps or injuries. You must be able to survive the extreme conditions while not moving. Lot’s of extra clothes and many days worth of calories. Etc etc. So far I haven’t needed the emergency supplies but I always carry them. Better some extra weight and a safety margin.
I'm an avid solo hiker. In the winter I stay low and within established trails. Just not worth the risk.
I don’t know if I’m a pussy for thinking this way, but I would’ve turned around at the first sign of trouble.
Our mountains are beautiful and unpredictable.
This ine hits a vit different. My condolences to the famil. I will never pretent to understanding how it is in an Asian home, but the parents wanted him to have a better life abroad. To see him dying spreading his wings abroad brings the onions out. He lives, Im grateful that. I hope everyone out there is living, but reducing the risks while doing so, with whatever calls you.
What does this have to do with "understanding Asian homes"??? 🙄
Silly comment!
@@meghanmisaliar I guess you don't live in a high Asian immigrant area or know Asians? Your comment is silly.
@@dana102083 I AM ASIAN!!
@@dana102083 silly woman!
Have hiked that loop several time falling waters trail is not recommended in adverse weather very steep rock to rock do not know how you could safely travel in icy conditions wet summer conditions make it very slippery
Head lamp is a great choice and also a survival blanket.
The most important thing anyone can take out of this is do not rely on a cell phone for anything obviously he thought because he had a connection with his family member that was going to be his partner as far as another hiker and always always have the ability to start a fire and the knowledge of how to do that in any condition and how to make a Windbreak another words you need to have a lot of knowledge before you set off into the woods by yourself for a all-day hike or even a half day hike Anyway what I'm saying is there's enough deaths out there for no reason but being in the wrong place at the wrong time or some crazy local or a bear attack which is another thing you should always carry some sort of protection if you're in better territory even if you're not staying overnight and carrying food always carry more water than you think you'll need and my last advice never leave anything behind except for your footprints and maybe a stack of rocks marking your accomplishment just don't make it look like a trail marker
I got briefly lost in the Indiana Sand Dunes before there were cell phones. It was scary.
My idea of spending Christmas alone is w fireplace blazing, my ass glued to the couch clutching my ipad w a cup of hot tea watching my cats chasing each other, wondering why ppl would go on a hike alone in the dead of winter w only their phone. Sounds suicidal or just overly optimistic or overestimating oneself. Not sure.
why is everything repeated?
Because people are stupid.
That’s the classical method of teaching - they tell you what they’re going to teach you, then they teach you, then they tell you what they just taught you.
First, why would he begin an 8 hour hike at 11:00 am? And with no light of any kind?
There’s no problem with that.
Because somebody triple double dogged dared him to, that's why! 😶
Starting at 11:00am in winter time seems already quite late 🤔
Sad story...but he was obviously ill prepared and inexperienced enough to go on a solo hike in this area.
Whoa go to hike up a mountain at least 8 hours long in dead of winter, no winter gear no flashlight and started at 11am. Have cellphone and GPS, but didn't ask for help and just let the battery die.
Head lamps at harbor freight cost like $9 and are fun to have around the house.
Feel bad for this guy. Being inexperienced and not so smart doesn't mean you deserve death.
The average death tool in the area is around 22, but I believe most are middle aged to senior men having medical events (heart attack, stroke, etc) in a remote area and dying before they can get medical help. Then there are falls and accidental drownings. So not all of the deaths are like this case. You might get several of them per year. -cases similar to this where the person didn't have enough gear in the winter, and didn't have the skills, so he gets lost and dies of hypothermia.
I used to camp out alone in the winter at 15,000 ft for 10 days at a time. Always hope for the best and prepare for the worst. I'm not a survival expert, not even close. My camping gear includes a bong and a big bag of weed. All it takes is a little common sense in your preparation and you'll be fine.
Cool story bro. Where did you do this camping?
@@ArcFixer Mount Charleston Peak I just looked it up I accidentally lied it's 11900 feet. I thought it was 15,000 but when I just looked it up I was wrong. 12000 ft is high enough to make my point though. It was an honest mistake. I really did think it was 15,000 feet.
@@ArcFixer I really don't think that the 3000 feet matters that much. 12000 feet is plenty high enough to make my point.
@@darksoul479
That makes more sense. There are only six mountains in the United States that are fifteen thousand feet or higher.
But you seem to be saying you camped on the summit of Charleston Peak for 10 days.
I can't imagine why anyone would camp on the peak of a 12000 ft mountain.
What would you do during the day? Climb down and go fishing? Then climb back up and freeze your ass off all night?
: )
This guy went for a day hike and didn't bring a tent nor a sleeping bag. It's not a comparable situation.
people underestimate the power of nature- Nature will always have the last say
this is why i have unexciting life...
So clever he goes hiking alone in freezing cold winter weather. Idiotic.
This happened a month after a girl died on the same route. Same sort of thing. Not prepared for the harsh weather changes, they get blown off the trail and succumb.
Nevermind not hiking alone. Why are these trails not closed in the winter? Winter is not the season to hike in New Hampshire. Signs should be posted .