Florida Man Nearly Buried Hiking NH Mountain In Snowstorm

WHITE MOUNTAINS, NH -- A Florida man is lucky to be alive after he ran into a massive storm that dumped nearly 3 feet of snow while he was hiking in the White Mountains on Wednesday, authorities said. Andrew Carlson, of Madeira Beach, was rescued from a hut atop Mount Madison.

"The weather conditions on the ridge were brutal," New Hampshire Fish and Game said in a statement. "(An officer) located Carlson, cold, but alive huddled underneath the building where he had sought shelter from the elements."

Carlson activated an emergency beacon Wednesday morning at the height of the storm, alerting Fish and Game that he was in trouble. Officers and the Androscoggin Valley Search and Rescue team were dispatched to search for him.

At the time, the wind chill was at minus 1 degree and there was nearly 3 feet of snow on the mountain, Fish and Game said.

Carlson was found at the Madison Spring Hut, a shelter with beds along the Appalachian Trail.

Fish and Game said it "would like to remind winter outdoor enthusiasts that along with being well-equipped for winter conditions, it is critical to evaluate weather reports and your own personal skills and limitations when making the decision to venture out, particularly in the White Mountains."

More snow is expected for the White Mountains this weekend as the state's first nor'easter of the season hits. Southern New Hampshire will escape most of the snow but heavy rain and strong winds could flood roads and knock out power.

Photos: The snow-covered hut (top) where New Hampshire Fish and Game found a stranded hiker on Mount Madison October 25, 2018. The photo at bottom shows the trail rescuers traveled to reach the hiker. (Credit: Matt Bowman via Androscoggin Valley Search and Rescue team)