GORHAM — A Farmington, New Hampshire hiker was safely rescued Thursday evening after being lost for over 30 hours in the Great Gulf Wilderness.
William Morin, 38, was reported missing by his employer after failing to complete a northern presidential Traverse which he started on Monday morning.
The New Hampshire Fish and Game Department received the notification around 10:45 a.m. on Thursday.
Morin’s employer indicated that he was last known to be off trail near the Buttress Trail.
Morin had mistakenly followed the Star Lake Trail to the Buttress Trail, an infrequently used and poorly marked path.
Facing adverse weather and challenging trail conditions, Morin decided to abort his hike.
His last communication suggested he was attempting to navigate his way to a road, but he had not been heard from for an extended period.
A search and rescue operation was launched with a conservation officer and a member of the Androscoggin Valley Search and Rescue team hiking in via the Great Gulf Trail.
After 2.5 miles on the trail and nearly a mile off-trail, the searchers located Morin around 6 p.m. by the Peabody River in his tent, trying to keep warm.
He was found with all his gear soaked from the continuous rain.
Rescuers provided Morin with dry clothing, food, and energy drinks before escorting him down to the trailhead, arriving at 10 p.m.
Although Morin had a tent, sleeping bag, and most of the ten essentials for an overnight hike, the wet conditions and deep snow sections thwarted his progress and diverted his path into the Great Gulf.
Following the rescue, Morin was taken by a private vehicle to a hospital for precautionary evaluation.
