This Hiker May Have to Pay For His Own Search And Rescue Mission
A Massachusetts man may get an expensive life lesson on taking the buddy system seriously — at least when in the woods.
A couple of weeks ago, Massachusetts hiker Christophe Chamley told his wife he would return on April 23 from a hike in the White Mountains. When the 70-year-old man, who has an undisclosed medical condition, hadn’t return by 3:48am the following morning, his wife naturally called 911.
The New Hampshire State Police were able to find Chamley’s car at the Appalachian Mountain Club Pinkham Notch around 7am on April 24, but couldn’t find any trace of the man himself. So by 10am, the full spectrum of troops were rallied: the New Hampshire Fish and Game department, Androscoggin Valley Search and Rescue, US Forest Service, snowcats from the Mount Washington State Park and a National Guard helicopter all got involved in the search for Chamley.
Fortunately for all involved, authorities spoke with nearby the Mount Washington Hotel during the search and discovered that Chamley had checked in at 1am. Earlier in the evening, Chamley had messaged his wife to let her know that he was unable to complete his planned route and had decided to spend the night in the hotel instead. Unfortunately, the message didn’t go through. Exhausted from his efforts, Chamley also didn’t realize that a search for him was underway because he didn’t wake up until around 11am.
The New Hampshire Fish and Game department will submit its expenses for the search to the state attorney general’s office and will decide at a later date if Chamley will be held responsible for covering those fees.
