A 72-year-old hiker was found dead just below the summit of Mount Washington in New Hampshire on Thursday, with officials attributing his death to exposure to severe weather conditions.
The body was discovered by another hiker along the Gulfside Trail, approximately half a mile from the summit. Lt. Mark Ober of the New Hampshire Fish & Game Department reported that several first responders were dispatched to retrieve the body and transport it to the medical examiner’s office for an autopsy.
The exact cause of death is still under investigation, but preliminary findings suggest the hiker likely succumbed to environmental exposure.
The deceased was found wearing only jeans, a raincoat, and hiking boots, leading officials to believe he may have taken the Cog Railway to the summit on Wednesday before attempting the descent.
Ober highlighted that the hiker was inadequately prepared for the harsh conditions present at higher elevations in the White Mountains.
The summit conditions remain cold, wet, and windy, which are conducive to hypothermia and other weather-related injuries. Despite calmer winds earlier in the week, temperatures with wind chills remained in the 20s to low 30s with persistent rain and fog. The man’s identity has not been released pending family notification.
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