Androscoggin Valley Search and Rescue

10/15/2026

Starting tomorrow the Mount Washington State Park/summit building is fully CLOSED for services for the season. If you are heading out please check your hiking plans, double check the forecast and prepare accordingly (and then some).

With the weather forecast calling for snow, ice and high winds, the Sherman Adams summit building at Mount Washington State Park is closed for the season as of October 16th.

Hikers should be aware that there will be no shelter/services/amenities available. Visit the Mount Washington Observatory for higher summits forecast and use these resources to plan ahead and hike responsibly: Wildly Responsible NH & HikeSafe

We would like to thank everyone from all over the world who came to visit us and to our summit partners for a great season!

The Mt. Washington Auto Road and the Mount Washington Cog Railway remain open. Please check their websites for schedules.

09/28/2026

AVSAR callout 09/26/26 concluded on 09/27/26

NH Fish & Game report:

“Sargent’s Purchase – On Saturday, September 26, 2026, at approximately 10:00 p.m., NH Fish and Game Conservation Officers and volunteers from Androscoggin Valley Search and Rescue (AVSAR) were called upon to rescue a hiker with an unknown physical ailment from the Boot Spur Trail.

The hiker, identified as Nagarajan Tiruchchirapallis, 48, of Jersey City, NJ had been hiking with three other companion hikers that day. It was reported that Tiruchchirapallis had started hiking with the group early that morning up Tuckerman Ravine Trail, but he was struggling to ascend, so his companions told him to turn around and not attempt the hike. He turned around and ended up taking a shuttle to the top of Mt. Washington where he met his companions. After a break at the summit the three who had hiked up planned to hike back down and Tiruchchirapallis decided to hike down to the bottom with them. They started down at 11:30 a.m.

According to one of his companions, it took Tiruchchirapallis nearly 2 hours to go approximately ½ mile. At this point he was again told by his companions to turn around and return back to the summit for a ride down, but he refused and chose to continue on.

After several 911 calls later in the day and multiple attempts by his companions to get him down, including carrying him on their backs, a rescue crew was called. The rescue team reached Tiruchchirapallis at 12:30 a.m. on Sunday morning and assisted him down to the Sherburne ski trail where he was placed on an ATV and driven down to the Pinkham Notch Visitor Center at 2:00 a.m. From there he was evaluated by EMS personnel from Gorham Ambulance and was ultimately transported to Androscoggin Valley Hospital in Berlin for precautionary reasons.” Thank you team!

09/17/2026

On Saturday 09/12/26 the annual multi-team Search And Rescue training was held at Cannon Mountain and hosted by NH Outdoor Counsel. AVSAR joined Pemigewasset Valley Search and Rescue Team Lakes Region Search and Rescue and Upper Valley Wilderness Response Team along with NH Fish & Game CO’s for a full day of learning beneficial skills with an array of topics SAR related. Presentations included high angle/terrain rescue, river crossing skills, drone team training, the Mount Washington Observatory and many more which was then followed by a cookout in phenomenal weather. We’d like to extend our thanks and deep gratitude to our members, training teams, NH Outdoor Counsel, Cannon Mountain and NH Fish & Game for a wonderful day of teamwork and camaraderie.

09/09/2026

AVSAR callout 09/07/26 a stand down due to helicopter rescue availability.

NH Fish & Game report:

“Sargent’s Purchase – On Monday, September 7, 2026 at approximately 2:30 p.m., NH Fish and Game was notified by NH State Police Dispatch about an injured hiker on the Glen Boulder Trail, near the Davis Path junction approximately 4 miles in from the closest parking lot. The hiker was identified as Morrie Gasser, 79, of Hopkinton, MA. The call came in via a 911 call from Gasser’s companion’s reporting that Gasser had fallen and suffered a head and neck injury and could not move and did not have feeling in his extremities.

Due to the nature of the reported injury and the distance from any medical care, NHFG called and requested a helicopter rescue from the NH Army National Guard. Although the skies were mostly clear, it was windy on the ridge and a helicopter rescue was not guaranteed, so a call was also put out to SAR volunteer groups. Members from Androscoggin Valley Search and Rescue (AVSAR) and Lakes Region Search and Rescue responded to the call. If the helicopter was unable to reach Gasser, then it would fall upon volunteers and Conservation Officers to conduct a time consuming, lengthy carryout.

While waiting for the Blackhawk Helicopter to arrive, Conservation Officers were tasked with relaying volunteers up the Sherburne Ski Trail to the Hermit Lake Shelter on ATVs. From there the rescuers started hiking up Boot Spur Link to Boot Spur Trail to Davis Path.

At approximately 5:30 PM, the Blackhawk Helicopter was able to land on the Davis Path near Gasser. He was assessed by the flight medics, placed in a litter and carried back to the helicopter. The Blackhawk lifted off the ridge at 5:49 PM. From there Glasser was flown directly to Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center in Lebanon.

Overall 24 volunteers responded to the call as well as 6 Conservation Officers. Luckily the Army National Guard helicopter was able to extract the patient which saved the rescue crew from an arduous carryout of a patient in a potential life threatening condition from a very difficult trail; a carryout that would have likely taken all night to complete.“

09/09/2026

AVSAR callout 09/06/26 concluded on 09/07/26

NH Fish and Game report:

“Sargent’s Purchase: On Sunday, September 6, 2026, a group of rescuers responded to Mt. Washington to assist a man suffering from an unknown medical condition.

Shortly after 4:00 PM, New Hampshire Fish and Game Department Conservation Officers received word that a 29-year-old man was at the Lakes of the Clouds AMC Hut and experiencing symptoms that were concerning. Based on the available information, a small team comprised of Conservation Officers and members of the Androscoggin Valley Search and Rescue Team (AVSAR) responded to attempt a walk-out with assist for the young man.

The rescue team ultimately hiked down to the hut from the summit of Mt. Washington and made contact with the patient around 7:30 PM. The man was evaluated and agreed that it would be best to try and hike slowly back to the summit of Mt. Washington to get a ride to the hospital.

The initial rescue team moved slowly but steadily up the Crawford Path until shortly after 9:00 PM. At this point the patient’s condition changed and he began experiencing new symptoms. Out of an abundance of caution, additional rescuers were called in to help carry the patient the remaining 0.9 miles to the summit. While waiting for additional personnel to arrive, the initial rescue team sheltered in place to protect the patient from the 37 degree temperatures and fog driven by 50 mph winds.

Shortly before midnight, a larger team consisting of more AVSAR personnel and Conservation Officers began carrying the patient up the mountain. Working steadily, the rescue party arrived safely at the summit at 2:00 AM on the morning of September 7. The patient was ultimately placed in a vehicle and driven to the base of the Mt. Washington Auto Road where he met a waiting Gorham Ambulance. He was then taken immediately to Androscoggin Valley Hospital in Berlin for further evaluation.

The patient was identified at Vikram Pasumarti of Washington, DC. Pasumarti and his family were very grateful for the help and repeatedly thanked rescuers in the aftermath of this situation.”

08/30/2026

Along with our annual team Spring and Winter trainings, our training committee remains hard at work throughout the year with creating, planning and finely executing detailed events open to all members who would like to further sharpen their skills. Whether the topics are known or new…there is always something to learn and there is always camaraderie to be had. So far this year, members were invited to attend clinics involving 3rd class belaying, rescue preparedness and patient care, litter assembly and patient packaging and we had the wonderful opportunity to link up with the Sawyer River Group to have an in depth training about (and in) moving water. A huge shout out to our training committee for their continued dedication and efforts. We could not be where we are without you!

08/23/2026

AVSAR callout 08/22/26

NH Fish & Game report:

“Injured Hiker Rescued from Huntington Ravine Trail

Sargent’s Purchase – On Saturday, August 22, 2026 at approximately 10:45 AM, NH Fish and Game was notified of an injured hiker on the Huntington Ravine Trail approximately ½ mile up from the Harvard Cabin. The caller reported that she had suffered a lower leg injury preventing her from being able to hike out without assistance. The hiker was identified as Sydney Cox, 30, of Rochester, NH.

Cox had been hiking up Huntington Ravine Trail with a hiking companion when she injured her lower leg in the boulder field at around 9:00 AM. Determined to make it out without calling for help, Cox crawled, hopped and shuffled approximately 4/10ths of a mile before it became too much to continue without assistance. She ultimatley made a 911 call for help.

A rescue response was initated and Conservation Officers and volunteers from Androscoggin Valley Search and Rescue (AVSAR) responded. Volunteers hiked up Tuckerman Ravine Trail to Huntington Ravine Trail, while Conservation Officers utilized ATVs to haul up rescue gear and a litter up the Sherburne Ski Trail.

While rescuers were responding, Cox didn’t stay where she was and wait. She continued crawling and hopping down the trail another 3/10ths of a mile before meeting up with rescuers. The progress she made reduced the carryout from approximately 1.25 miles to around .5 miles.

At 1:32 PM the first rescuers reached Cox. She was evaluated and had her injured leg placed into a vacuum splint then she was placed in a litter and carried approximately ½ mile down to the ATV. Once at the ATV, Cox was able to get out of the litter and was placed on the back of the ATV, behind a Conservation Officer and driven down to the bottom.
She arrived at the Pinkham Notch Visitor Center at 3:20 PM. She was assessed by EMS personnel from Gorham Ambulance, but ultimately refused transport via ambulance and instead was driven to a hospital by her hiking comanion.

Cox was an experienced hiker having completed 35 of the 48 4000 footers. She had all the necessary gear and equipment for a hike of this caliber and were were well prepared with the 10 essentials recommended by the Hike Safe program.” Thank you team!

08/11/2026

AVSAR callout 08/09/26 concluded on 08/10/26

NH Fish & Game report:

“Thompson and Meserves Purchase, NH – On Sunday, August 9, 2026, personnel from multiple rescue crews teamed up to help carry an injured hiker to safety after she fell and sustained a leg injury.

At approximately 6:30 p.m., Cynthia Krum, 65, of South Portland, Maine, slipped and fell from a rock while traversing the Link Trail on the north side of Mt. Jefferson. As a result of the fall, Krum was left unable to walk. Her daughter ultimately made a 911 call for help following the accident.

Shortly before 7:00 p.m., New Hampshire Fish and Game Department Conservation Officers were notified of the incident. Krum was located 1.6 miles from the Caps Ridge Trailhead in rough terrain, so Conservation Officers called upon the assistance of volunteers from the Androscoggin Valley Search and Rescue Team (AVSAR) and Pemigewassett Valley Search and Rescue Team (Pemi) to assist in the carryout.

By 9:40 p.m., the first wave of rescuers arrived at Krum’s location. She was given first aid on scene and then packaged in a litter. Once packaged, the rescue team of 3 Conservation Officers and 34 volunteers began carrying Krum back to the Caps Ridge Trailhead.

At 1:47 a.m., on the morning of August 10, the rescue crew arrived safely with Krum at the Caps Ridge Trailhead. Krum was evaluated and subsequently taken by Twin Mountain Ambulance to Littleton Regional Hospital to seek treatment for her injuries.

New Hampshire Fish and Game would like to sincerely thank all the volunteers who routinely sacrifice their own time to help those in need in the woods and mountains of our state.” A phenomenal job well done and a huge ‘thank you’ to all who were involved Pemigewasset Valley Search and Rescue Team and for the continued dedication of our members!

08/08/2026

AVSAR callout 08/06/26

NH Fish & Game report:

“Hiker Rescued from Gray K**b Trail

Low & Burbank’s Grant – On Thursday, August 6, 2026, NH Fish and Game Conservation Officers along with search and rescue volunteers from Andoscoggin Valley Search and Rescue (AVSAR) and Pemigewasset Valley Search and Rescue (PEMI SAR) carried out an injured hiker from the Gray K**b RMC cabin in Low & Burbank’s Grant.

The hiker identifed as, Daisy McCoy, 75, of Lyndon Center, VT had suffered an unknow leg injury the previous night while descending the Gray K**b Trail towards the cabin. Fortunately the Randolph Mountain Club (RMC) caretaker came upon her shortly after the injury. He returned to Gray K**b where he got a litter and enlisted the help of a couple other hikers and carried McCoy to the cabin. There she spent the night and a rescue response was initated in the morning.

McCoy had started her hike earlier that day by hiking up Castle Trail to Israel Ridge Path with her ultimate destination being the Perch lean to where she was hoping to spend the night. Finding it full, she then decided to hike down to Gray K**b.

All in all over 20 rescuers comprising of volunteers and conservation officers hiked up nearly 3 miles to Gray K**b shelter and secured McCoy in a litter. She was then carried down to the bottom via Lowe’s Path arriving road side at 1:22 PM. McCoy was transferred to the Gorham Ambuance and ultimately transported the Androscoggin Valley Hospital in Berlin. McCoy did possess a Hike Safe card.” Thank you team! along with Pemigewasset Valley Search and Rescue Team