Westborough Woman Saved From Deep Snow On Mount Washington

WESTBOROUGH, MA - A Westborough woman was one of two people saved by rescue crews Sunday night on Mount Washington in New Hampshire.

Beata Lelacheur,54, of Westborough and Kathryn McKee, 51, of Southborough, were stuck in deep now around 5,000 feet above sea level in whiteout conditions. Rescuers used GPS to find them about 34 feet from the trail where they called 911.

The New Hampshire Fish and Game Law Enforcement Division gave the play-by-play of the ordeal in a Facebook post. McKee and Lelacheur battled chest-deep snow and "spruce traps" (holes created in the snow underneath trees). They couldn't follow the trail as it had been covered up by wind and snow.

Temperatures had reached -2 degrees, and high-speed gusts of 50-6o mph were walloping the mountain. Around 10:30 p.m., rescuers arrived and a State Park snowcat started up the mountain followed by nine other rescuers.

At 1:50 a.m. the rescuers finally broke through the snow and found the two hikers. They were alive and coherent, but suffering from cold weather injuries. Response crews set up emergency shelters to help warm up McKee and Lelacheur.

By 4:15 a.m. the rescue party and the hikers safely reached the base. They were evaluated by the staff, and one hiker was transported to Littleton Regional Hospital for further evaluation.