Rhode Island man rescued after being caught in freezing weather on Mount Washington

MOUNT WASHINGTON, N.H. — A 20-year-old from Wakefield, Rhode Island, was rescued Sunday night after getting trapped in dangerous winter-like conditions near the summit of Mount Washington, New Hampshire.

Officials say Owen Strommer was on the upper section of the Tuckerman Ravine Trail, about 0.3 miles below the summit, when he called 911 around 7 p.m. Through a weak phone connection, authorities learned that his headlamp and cellphone were dying, he had no backup gear, and he was unprepared to spend the night in freezing conditions.

At the time, the summit faced windblown snow, near-zero visibility, and temperatures around 21°F with a wind chill of 3°F. Rescue teams from New Hampshire Fish and Game, Androscoggin Valley Search & Rescue, and Mount Washington State Park responded immediately.

Strommer was eventually guided to safety after spotting the headlights of a state park vehicle. He was evaluated at the summit and released without injury.

Officials say he was “absolutely unprepared” for the early winter weather already hitting New Hampshire’s highest peaks.

Mount Washington, towering at 6,288 feet in New Hampshire’s White Mountains, is the tallest peak in the Northeastern United States and a legendary destination for outdoor enthusiasts. Known for its fierce and unpredictable weather — earning it the title “Home of the World’s Worst Weather” — the mountain has recorded some of the planet’s strongest wind speeds, including a 231 mph gust in 1934. Its summit is often shrouded in fog, snow, and hurricane-force winds, even during summer months, making it both awe-inspiring and dangerous. Despite these challenges, Mount Washington draws thousands of hikers, skiers, and sightseers every year. Visitors can reach the top via the historic Mount Washington Auto Road, the Cog Railway, or several rugged hiking trails. The summit is also home to the Mount Washington Observatory, a renowned research station that studies the mountain’s extreme climate and continues to provide vital data for meteorologists and adventurers alike.

Man rescued from Mount Washington.