LOST IN THE SNOW

By David J Crandall

 

Two inexperience hikers decide to do some winter backpacking on a trail in the White Mountains of New Hampshire. They had been hiking for two days when a sudden snowstorm developed and they lose the trail. As they progress and the visibility becomes worse one of the two slips off of the mountain and is lost. The remaining hiker who is unaware that his partner fell of the mountain finally reaches a summit just as the storm begins to break. When his partner does not arrive at the summit he tries to retrace his steps but finds them covered with new snow. He calls out but receives no response. Finally he decides that he needs help and uses his cell phone to call 911.

A search and rescue team is started for the two hikers however with the new snow it becomes difficult to find any tracks left by the hikers. Rescue personal try to pinpoint the location of the hiker with the cell phone using the GPS system. You have been called in and have been given these coordinates. The weather service has reported the weather to be overcast with snow flurries and an approaching snowstorm form the north is expected to hit this area by 8:00 tonight.