On Sunday, a 20-year-old skier fell 600 feet to her death on Mount Washington. Over the weekend, rescuers had to pull at least two other people from the New Hampshire mountain because of stormy and icy weather.
NBC affiliate WBTS-TV News reported that Madison Saltsburg died when she fell off Tuckerman Ravine, a steep glacial slope on the southeast face of the huge New England peak.
The fatal fall happened the day after three people got stuck on the mountain. Two of them were hurt, but not seriously enough that they needed to be rescued.
A spokesperson for the US Forest Service, Colleen Mainville, told the news source on Sunday, “The snow rangers and emergency workers were up there late last night.”
Rescue efforts were slowed down by snow and strong winds. About a foot of snow was expected.
Backcountry skiers love Mount Washington, which is the tallest mountain in the Northeast. However, the mountain is known for having storms that come and go quickly, requiring many rescues.
WBTS said that last week, a hiker from Kentucky had to be rescued from another part of the mountain after falling and hitting his head hard. He was also very cold.
Around 6:45 p.m. on Thursday, 23-year-old Joabe Barbosa lost one of his shoes and fell off the trail into Ammonusuc Ravine. He hit his head and face and hurt himself.
On the trail, which is about 3,600 feet above sea level, Barbosa was able to call 911 and get help.
It took four hours for rescuers to get the hiker off the mountain and to Littleton Regional Health Care. Officials from New Hampshire Fish and Game said he wasn’t ready for the hike.
