NJ Teens Stuck On Mountain Also Stuck With Rescue Bill, Officials Say

Four New Jersey teenagers were rescued from the mountains in New Hampshire this weekend after the hikers were unprepared for the conditions, officials said.

On Friday, around 9 p.m., New Hampshire Fish and Game was told that four hikers were stuck on Franconia Ridge in Franconia.

One of the hikers "was having difficulty breathing and had sore legs," New Hampshire officials said.

Authorities later determined that the four 18-year-olds did not bring lights, did not pack enough food and water, and were not properly dressed for the seven- to nine-hour hike they had embarked on.

Rescuers set out to rescue the four teenagers around 10:30 p.m., hiked 4.2 miles to Mount Lincoln, and eventually found them at around 1:15 a.m. on Saturday, officials said.

The four New Jerseyans were given food, water, clothing, and headlamps before being guided back down the mountain. They reached the base of the mountain just after 9 a.m. Saturday.

Officials said that because the hikers were not prepared, the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department intends to bill them for the cost of the rescue.

While officials did not specify how much this individual rescue cost, the average rescue cost in 2025 was roughly $1,450, according to NH Fish and Game data.