Crime & Safety
3 'Unprepared' Hikers Rescued From Monadnock In Sub-Zero Temperatures
Herculean efforts to rescue hikers from Quincy, Mass., and Thailand were made by Monadnock Park Staff and the Upper Valley Wilderness Teams.
JAFFREY, NH — New Hampshire Fish and Game Conservation Officers say that an unprepared hiker created the need for rescuers to carry the woman out in -10 degree temperatures.
New Hampshire Fish and Game was contacted by Monadnock Park Staff concerning three lost hikers Friday near the summit of Mount Monadnock. The three hikers were unprepared for the impending darkness and cold temperatures. The wind chill temperatures on Monadnock at the time of the call were approximately -10 F. A response was initiated to rescue the three immediately from Monadnock Park Staff, Upper Valley Wilderness Response Team, and New Hampshire Fish and Game Conservation Officers.
A phone call was placed to the victims to help them find the trail and get below the tree line with the minutes of light left to navigate. Once they made it to the tree line, they could not continue as they did not have lights.
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Rescuers made contact with the hikers and were able to provide gear to help with their descent. The three hikers were Sirin O’Connor, 63, and Somjak Weerapit, 50, of Quincy, Massachusetts, and Phromthep Khankaew, 37, of Thailand.
Due to their lack of warm clothing and exposure to extreme cold, O’Connor’s condition deteriorated on the descent. Rescue crews then stopped, provided warm fluids, and aided in warming O’Connor. Her lack of strength and cold exposure helped determine the safest and most efficient extrication would now be to carry O’Connor the remaining 1.3 miles.
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Crews were able to assist Weerapit and Khankaew down under their power, arriving at the trailhead at approximately 8:30 p.m. Simultaneously, rescue crews carried O’Connor down the mountain, arriving at the trailhead at approximately 9:48 p.m. O’Connor was transported by Jaffrey Ambulance to Monadnock Community Hospital, where she was treated for her injuries.
Sergeant Kevin Bronson said, "Thankfully, due to the herculean efforts of rescue crews from Monadnock Park Staff, Upper Valley Wilderness Response Team, and New Hampshire Conservation Officers, the three victims survived their blunder." Conservation officers encourage outdoor enthusiasts to check the weather forecast and prepare for the current winter weather conditions.
