Last Thursday, rescue teams in New Hampshire saved a 28-year-old hiker who was suffering from hypothermia during a solo hike in the White Mountains. Harsh conditions including temperatures in the 20s and winds over 30 miles per hour forced Patrick Bittman of Portland, Maine, to call 911 at 8:15a.m. to report that his limbs were frozen and he could no longer move through the snow, which was several feet deep.
Fish and Game officers were able to pinpoint his location about 1,000 feet off the trail at an elevation of 43-hundred feet. Along with volunteers from Pemigewasset Valley Search and Rescue, they began the rescue operation at 10a.m. An Army National Guard helicopter attempted to assist them but had to turn back due to cloud cover. By 1p.m., ground rescuers reached Bittman, stabilized him with warm clothing, fluids, and shelter while a team prepared a trail to extract him.
At 3p.m., clouds lifted briefly, allowing the helicopter to return and lower a medic to help Bittman and hoist him into the helicopter and transport him to a nearby hospital. Officials noted that the coordinated effort kept them from having to carry him out through rugged terrain. Bittman had begun his hike the previous evening to watch the sunrise from Mount Lafayette but became lost while descending in deep snow. Authorities are taking the opportunity to urge hikers to be prepared for winter conditions with essential safety gear.
Source: NEWS CENTER MAINE