Tragic Discovery on Mount Washington
A 79-year-old man from Florida was found deceased on Friday morning after going missing from Mount Washington in New Hampshire. This was confirmed by the state’s Fish and Game Division via social media.
Search crews took three challenging days to locate William Davis’ body, employing helicopters, drones, and numerous personnel in an area popular with summer tourists in New England.
“This was a tragic conclusion to a difficult search mission. We thank all the volunteers and staff who worked so hard to bring Davis back to his family,” the department noted.
Davis, who lived in Jacksonville, Florida, reached the summit via the Cog Railroad Mountain on Wednesday afternoon. According to a news release, he was last seen near the visitor center around 3:20 PM, taking a photo with his wife. He then left alone toward the trail area.
A Hiker’s Journey Ends in Tragedy
At one point, Davis had briefly contacted state park employees on his phone. He mentioned being off the trail and described his surroundings, but his phone died during the call. Around 6 PM that same evening, a search was initiated.
Initially, the team focused on the west side of the summit, with aid from Fish and Game Officers, park staff, and volunteers from Androscoggin Valley Search and Rescue using drones and ground teams to search early Thursday. Progress was slowed by fog and winds, and unfortunately, no signs of Davis were found.
On Friday morning, the search team adjusted their focus to the eastern and southern slopes of the mountain as weather conditions worsened. Rain, clouds, and strong winds moved in, with temperatures around the low 40s and wind chills approaching freezing.
Mount Washington is notorious for sudden weather changes. Even in summer, it features rocky terrain with limited visibility, catching many hikers off guard. While the summit is accessible by car and train, the trails beyond the visitor center can be perilous for inexperienced hikers. Each year, numerous rescues are conducted in the area.
By around 11 AM on Friday, volunteers discovered Davis’ body approximately 400 feet away from the Lion Head Trail, situated between the Alpine Garden and Tuckerman Valley trails, both known for their rocky terrain. Rescue authorities indicated that Davis likely suffered a significant fall.
During recovery efforts, a crew from the New Hampshire Army National Guard Black Hawk helicopter, already nearby for training, was able to assist during a brief window of better weather.
An autopsy by a state medical inspector is forthcoming, and authorities have yet to determine how Davis ended up in the remote area where he was located.
