YOUR COMMENTS

Glad to hear they made it out safely. I've been on the rock pile in crystal clear weather and in fog as thick as pea soup. Doesn't matter what the weather report says, it can change in minutes. You need to go prepared and make smart choices. They were not lucky, they were prepared and had the sense to make smart choices, period.
- Judy, Sutton, MA

Isn't there a weather station on top of Mt Washington that transmits weather reports every hour? If Jim D wants to hike with luck that’s fine but I’ll take knowledge and skill over luck any day. When I summated Washington in Dec of 97 and was forced down because of weather I new exactly what the weather was doing before it got to me so I didn’t get stuck above tree line in a white out and guess what when the weather moved in I was already heading down, I’d rather be smart and lucky than just lucky. I went back in April and climbed up the North side and down the South side with a full pack; I did Mt Madison in the same manor. Your right Jim D about being prepared but paying attention to your surroundings so you don’t have to rely on luck is the safest way to go. Those guys were “lucky” this time they didn’t kill themselves and take others trying to rescue them along for the ride.
- Anthony Chirichella, Troy NH

Contrary to what Anthony Chirichella said hiking Mt Washington in the winter is always risky because of the weather. It changes by the minute regardless of the forcast. Plus, once you start hiking it's hard to get a forcast. Having climbed the mountain four times in the winter I was lucky with good weather. Lucky being the key word. You prepare for the worst and expect the best. That is exactly what they did. Good job!
- Jim D., Goffstown, NH

Contrary to what Anthony Chirichella said you can do all the right things including watching the weather and still get stuck in a white out! It's hard to get a detailed Mt Washington weather report after you start hiking because the weather changes so fast. That's the nature of winter hiking on Mt Washingtion. I've summited four times in the heart of winter and was lucky with good weather. Lucky is the key word! "Prepare for the worst and expect the best" That's what they did. Good job for proper preparation.
- Jim D., Goffstown

What’s with the cheers crap were not in England, besides they forgot to check their most important piece of equipment……the weather report!...a…da It’s great they made it out ok, but dumb is what dumb does, it’s Mt. Washington not Mt. Monadnock.
- Anthony Chirichella, Troy NH

stop the press - hold the front page - they may be arresting these two like Dodds, seems NH prosecutors are into wasting all our tax money on chasing down peopel who get lost inthe woods. watch out - you could be the next victim of the states judicial abuse..
- Bill Bailey, epping nh

Good job being prepared. Too many people risk their lives and those of others depending solely on a cell phone
- Mark R, Nashua, NH

Good to hear that we still have sane and prepared hikers in the mountains.
- Ray Turmelle, Barrington, N.H.

And further cheers to people who planned ahead and didn't force others to risk their lives on an unnecessary rescue mission. There's a book called "Not Without Peril" that details ill-advised climbs that ended in fatalities. Nice to see there's not a need for another chapter in that book!
- Bob, Nashua, NH

Cheers to these guys who came prepared. To many hike the White's with nothing more than sneakers and a cellphone. These guys had the necessary tools to survive the extreme conditions.
- Tom O, Merrimack