Hiker Found Dead in New Hampshire’s White Mountains

A Massachusetts man, Kent Wood, age 61, was discovered deceased in the New Hampshire White Mountains after a spring snowstorm brought several inches of snow to the area, as reported by authorities.

Wood, who resided in West Roxbury, was found on Tuesday evening along the Kinsman Pond Trail in Franconia Notch, approximately 8.8 miles from his parked vehicle. He had traveled to Franconia Notch on April 17 for a hiking and camping weekend, setting off the next morning in warm, sunny conditions. His family and friends last made contact with him Saturday afternoon.

Relatives reported him missing on Tuesday after two days without any word from him, which initiated a large-scale search operation.

Rescuers soon realized that Wood had packed for milder weather rather than the 3 to 5 inches of snow that fell from Sunday to Monday.

A coordinated search effort, involving teams from Fish and Game, PEMI Valley Search and Rescue, and the Army National Guard, was launched focusing on the Lonesome Lake and Kinsman Pond areas.

Conservation officers located Wood’s body at around 7:41 p.m. on Tuesday. Crews managed to transport him overnight, reaching the trailhead just after 1 a.m. on Wednesday.

In recent days, six other hikers from Massachusetts have been rescued in the White Mountains, according to Fish and Game officials. They are reminding hikers that winter conditions still persist in the mountains, including snow, freezing temperatures, and rapidly changing weather.