Missing Florida man found dead after hiking Mount Washington

In New Hampshire, a tragic incident unfolded involving a 79-year-old man named William Davis from Jacksonville, Florida, who went missing after a visit to Mount Washington. On Wednesday afternoon, he and his wife took the Cog Railway up the mountain, reaching the summit at an elevation of 6,288 feet. Shortly after arriving, Davis was last seen near the observation deck at approximately 3:20 PM. After taking a photograph with his wife, he separated from her and ventured toward an area off the established trails. This would mark the unfortunate beginning of a search and rescue operation that would last three days. Davis made contact with a state park employee via cellphone shortly after getting lost. During the call, he indicated that he was off the designated trails and described his surroundings; however, he was unable to explain his exact location. The call abruptly ended when his phone's battery died. Initial search efforts focused on the immediate area around the summit but were unsuccessful in locating him. As night fell and weather conditions began to deteriorate, search efforts were paused temporarily. Early the next day, rescuers resumed searching as the temperatures dropped and winds began to pick up. Search teams comprising state Fish and Game officers, park staff, and volunteers from Androscoggin Valley Search and Rescue utilized drones and ground efforts throughout Thursday. Unfortunately, weather conditions complicated the search, with rain, clouds, and high winds moving into the area. Despite these challenges, the dedicated teams continued their search for Davis. By Friday morning, they shifted their focus to the eastern and southern slopes of Mount Washington, where conditions remained treacherous, with wind chills falling to near freezing. After an extensive and exhausting search, which involved the combined efforts of several dozen rescue volunteers, Davis was ultimately found deceased on Friday morning, roughly 400 feet away from the Lion Head Trail. His body was located between the Alpine Garden and Tuckerman Ravine Trails, areas known for their rugged and exposed terrain. Preliminary assessments suggested Davis suffered a significant fall. The recovery of his body was aided by a Black Hawk helicopter crew from the New Hampshire Army National Guard, who were in the vicinity conducting a training exercise. The state Fish and Game Department expressed condolences and gratitude toward the many volunteers and staff members who worked tirelessly on the search operation, underscoring the tragedy surrounding Davis's passing.