Over the weekend, authorities rescued more than 20 hikers stranded in blizzard-like conditions at the peak of Mount Washington in New Hampshire. Officials described the hikers as “ill-prepared” for the harsh weather they encountered.

The group had made it to the mountain’s 6,288-foot apex, unaware that summit facilities were closed for the season. “Most had no idea that summit services would be unavailable,” explained Andy Vilaine, assistant general manager of the Mount Washington Cog Railway, in a statement.

Vilaine emphasized, “The summit is only halfway.”

He noted that several hikers were experiencing hypothermia, lacking equipment even remotely suitable for the severe conditions they faced.

According to the New Hampshire State Police, the hikers were caught off-guard by the fierce weather, highlighting the importance of preparation when tackling such challenging terrains. (New Hampshire State Parks)

Some of the hikers even admitted it was “their first hike ever,” Vilaine said.

“Please don’t become a statistic and do your research before venturing out,” he said.

Mount Washington, New England’s highest peak, is known for its extreme and severe weather, earning it the nickname “Home of the World’s Worst Weather.”

NH Fish and Game reached out to the Cog Railway for assistance in relaying rescuers up the train tracks to where the Westside Trail crosses the tracks known as Skyline, the department said. (New Hampshire Fish and Game Department)

The hikers, whose names have not been released, were taken to lower elevations aboard the Mount Washington Cog Railway, a rack-and-pinion railway that runs along the mountain and offers tours.

The Mount Washington Cog Railway typically runs year-round, but after mid-October, the peak’s summit facilities, which are part of Mount Washington State Park, are shuttered. From mid-October until mid-May, the railway carries visitors to a lower point, Waumbek Station at 4,000 feet, instead of continuing to the summit. 

The summit of New Hampshire’s Mount Washington, Monday, Jan. 30, 2023. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty, File)

According to the railway’s winter information page, “by the last week of October, sub-arctic conditions make the summit inhospitable to casual visitors.”

“Multiple people have arrived at the summit the last few days very unprepared for winter and required assistance. Be ‘wildly responsible’, and please do some research on current higher summit weather and bring everything needed to hike in winter conditions or just hike another day,” the New Hampshire State Park wrote on Facebook.