A New Hampshire hiker who required rescue from Mount Washington in brutal conditions last weekend may be charged for his extraction, according to officials.
Though mountain rescue is typically provided free of charge, a New Hampshire law allows the Fish and Game Department to bill people who are found to be negligent for the cost of their rescue. In this case, 22-year-old Cole Matthes of Portsmouth set off over the holiday weekend unprepared, and persisted despite poor weather which saw other hikers he met along the way turning back. After falling and twisting his ankle, Matthes called for help, which prompted a 12-hour mission carried out in 90 mph winds and -52F temperatures.
