Parsippany Woman Dies While Hiking Mt. Washington

PARSIPPANY, NJ — A Parsippany woman has died after attempting to climb Mount Washington in sub-freezing temperatures, a New Hampshire Fish and Game official said.

Sandra Lee, 63, of the Mount Tabor section of Parsippany, died yesterday after exhibiting signs of hypothermia on the trail, Sergeant Glen Lucas said. The summit had wind-chill temperatures of 12 degrees, sustained winds up 60-miles per hour, and ice caused by rain and dense dog on Thursday.

Members of Lee's hiking party called 911 just before 2:30 p.m. on Thursday when they realized Lee was showing the signs of hypothermia, and was unable to move on her own, Lucas said.

Emergency staff stationed at the summit of the mountain descended to meet the group, and distributed warm, dry clothing to Lee and two others. The other two were assisted up the trail by park staff to a summit building to get warmer, while another park staffer stayed with Lee in the hopes she could be warmed up, Lucas said. Lee's hiking companions were not identified.

After the other two hikers were dropped off at the summit building, Lee was taken about two tenths of a mile to a road, where a nearby ambulance was waiting.

Lee was driven to a nearby hospital, where she was pronounced dead.

Mount Washington can be one of America's most dangerous hikes, particularly when the weather is bad. Since 1849, 137 people have died attempting to summit the mountain (for comparison, about 300 people have died attempting to climb Mount Everest).