CONTACT: Lieutenant James Kneeland Sergeant Heidi Murphy 603-271-3361 March 16, 2021

Benton, NH – On the evening of Sunday, March 14, 2021, at approximately 7:45 p.m., the NH Fish and Game Department was notified of an overdue hiker on Mt. Moosilauke in the town of Benton. Roy Sanford, 66, of Plymouth, MA, had planned to take an up and back hike on Mt. Moosilauke via the Glencliff Trail. Sanford left Plymouth that morning and had arrived at the trailhead at approximately 7:45 a.m. His family expected him to return by dinner. At approximately 7:00 p.m., the family became concerned that he hadn’t returned and notified NH State Police. A NH trooper was able to locate Sanford’s vehicle at the Glencliff Trailhead off High St. in Benton. At that time, a search party of Conservation Officers were called to initiate a hasty search up the Glencliff Trail. The Officers experienced blizzard conditions with snow, heavy wind gusts, and below freezing temperatures right from the trailhead. The officers were able to reach the south peak of Moosilauke before needing to turn around due to high winds, lack of visibility, and their own safety. Nearby trailheads were checked throughout the night and morning to ensure that Sanford had not ended up on another trail due to the fierce wind.

The next morning, March 15, several ground teams consisting of Conservation Officers and volunteers from the Mountain Rescue Service and Pemi Valley Search and Rescue teams searched all trails on and around Mount Moosiluake. The NH Army National Guard was able to deploy their Blackhawk helicopter to provide aerial coverage. In a true collaborative effort, at approximately 3:00 p.m., Conservation Officers had observed foot tracks in the fresh snow heading down Gorge Brook from the summit and passed this observation on to the Army National Guard who continued their search of the brook drainage from the air. The ground team was able to follow the tracks in the snow, which led to the body of Sanford at 3:40 p.m. The Army National Guard was able to lower a litter and eventually hoist Sanford onto the helicopter. Sanford was taken to Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center where he was pronounced deceased. It appears that weather conditions played a major contributing factor in this hiking incident.

This time of year always offers a challenging time for enjoying the wilds of the state. Temperatures have the potential to change by 20 degrees in a day. Additionally, the mountain tops have retained most of their winter feel but still swarm brooks and streams with water, making crossings more difficult. It’s a great time to get out, and if you have questions about how to properly prepare for your adventure check out the HikeSafe website at www.hikesafe.com.