Authorities confirmed Monday that a hiker’s body was found over the weekend after his wife informed them that he was missing during a climb in the White Mountains of New Hampshire.
Following a search and rescue operation Friday evening, the state Fish and Game Department reported that the remains of Christopher Huyler, 44, of neighboring Littleton, New Hampshire, were discovered on a ridge in Franconia Notch State Park in Franconia early on Saturday.
According to a statement from the department, “it was evident that the man had sustained a severe fall in icy terrain.” “He was wearing micro spikes and was well equipped for a hike.”
According to the department, Huyler had left on Friday to assess the conditions along an off-trail ski run that leads competitors through a glade, which is a tree-lined walkway.
The state-run Cannon Mountain, a historic ski resort that is set to open for the season on Friday, is next to the glade. According to the Fish and Game Department, the hiker was en route to the center of the three “Cannon Balls,” which are sub-peaks southwest of the summit.
According to the agency, Huyler checked in with his wife at around 4 p.m. on Friday to let her know he was okay and was hiking back. She informed authorities that Huyler was past due around 6:30 p.m., according to the report.
According to the department, the hiker’s body was discovered during the first hour of Saturday by search and rescue personnel bushwhacking through chilly, steep terrain on Kinsman Ridge, a ridge that leads to Cannon Mountain.
“Just prior to 1:00 a.m., while ascending the edges of a steep iced-over slide, the body of the missing man was located at around 2,800 feet in elevation,” according to the Fish and Game Department.
Nearly two dozen rescuers, including conservation officers from the Fish and Game Department and volunteers from the Pemi Valley Search and Rescue Team, gathered at around 5:30 p.m. to assist in transporting the hiker’s body 3.2 miles to a road that provided access to the route, according to the statement.
According to the department, Huyler parked there on Friday before starting his trip. An autopsy was to be performed by the New Hampshire Office of the Chief Medical Examiner.
According to a spokesman, the office’s ability to disclose details about the deceased was restricted by family privacy.
The Fish and Game Department described Huyler as “an avid outdoor enthusiast” who was familiar with the White Mountains, a range steeped in the history of winter sports, where in 1938 Cannon Mountain built the first aerial tramway for skiers in North America.
The daily weather report for Cannon Mountain on Monday stated that the weather over the weekend was chilly enough to bring 8 inches of fresh snow. The town of Franconia, located roughly 145 miles north of Boston, had temperatures drop into the mid-30s on Friday night under a cloudy sky and calm winds, according to the National Weather Service.
According to the Fish and Game Department, “winter conditions have arrived in the mountains, and hikers are encouraged to be prepared for their trek,”
It advised hikers to bring weather-appropriate clothing, a map, a compass, food and water, a headlamp, a fire starter, a first aid kit, a whistle, and a knife.
Note: Every piece of content is rigorously reviewed by our team of experienced writers and editors to ensure its accuracy. Our writers use credible sources and adhere to strict fact-checking protocols to verify all claims and data before publication. If an error is identified, we promptly correct it and strive for transparency in all updates, feel free to reach out to us via email. We appreciate your trust and support!