MEREDITH, N.H. – Tucked away in the serene beauty of New Hampshire’s Mount Washington, Tuckerman Ravine has long been a sought-after destination for seasoned skiers and snowboarders looking for a thrill beyond the boundaries of traditional ski resorts. However, what was supposed to be a day of adventure turned deadly as hard and icy conditions transformed the bowl into a perilous trap, claiming the life of one skier and injuring several others.
On a Saturday when temperatures plummeted into the low 20s and continued to drop, Madison Saltsburg, 20, tragically lost her life after a fall of about 600 vertical feet down the ravine, as reported by the U.S. Forest Service. Two additional skiers were left with serious injuries after tumbling and colliding with rocks and ice, while several other falls were witnessed throughout the day with less severe outcomes.
Search and rescue efforts persisted well into the night, as teams braved worsening weather conditions to extract the injured skiers and recover Saltsburg’s body from the mountain. With heavy, wet snowfall engulfing the area and winds intensifying, the rescue mission faced additional challenges.
Colleen Mainville, a spokesperson for the forest service, praised the dedication and exhaustion of the snow rangers and emergency personnel who worked tirelessly on the treacherous terrain. Tuckerman Ravine, typically bustling with activity in the spring as snow softens under the sun, presented a different, more dangerous landscape that day.
The forest service highlighted the hazardous mix of hard ice and crevasse holes that Saltsburg and her companion encountered, exacerbated by the freezing temperatures and lack of recent snowfall. Despite the efforts of forest service rangers and the Mount Washington Avalanche Center to aid the injured skiers, conditions remained unforgiving on the slopes.
Mount Washington, standing tall at 6,288 feet, boasts a reputation for unpredictable weather patterns and frequent rescue operations. As another rescue unfolded following a hiker’s misadventure into Ammonoosuc Ravine the night before, the challenges and risks of navigating the mountain’s terrain became glaringly evident.
The incidents serve as grim reminders of the dangers that lurk beyond the safety of designated ski areas, where nature’s unforgiving temperament tests the skills and preparedness of even the most experienced adventurers.