CRAWFORD NOTCH, N.H. -- Two hikers missing in Crawford Notch since Sunday were found Tuesday morning -- exhausted, dehydrated but otherwise OK.

Alex Obert, 30, and Stephen McCay, 29, both of Arlington, Va., were found on the back side of Mount Eisenhower. A helicopter spotted the men walking and took them off the mountain at about 10:30 a.m.

"We're feeling pretty good," Obert said. "Glad to be out of the weather and into some dry clothes."

The men were in good condition when they got off the helicopter at the Appalachian Mountain Club's Highland Center, where they were greeted with hugs from family and friends.

"This is so wonderful," said Ging McCay, McCay's mother. "We want to thank all the rescue people and all the Fish and Game people for all they've done."

After they had time to change clothes and warm up, the men spoke about their experiences, saying they were exhausted and relieved. Obert and McCay are firefighters and paramedics, but on Tuesday, they were the ones who were rescued, and they thanked the teams who searched for them.

"Thank you. Thank you so much," Obert said, as his voice shook with emotion. "I know a lot of time and a lot of energy and a lot of risk, especially with the airlift out of there, and I understand most of them are volunteers and risked their lives for us."

The hikers said the weather turned on them Sunday, making it difficult to see. They had planned on snow and didn't expect the strong rain that fell.

"The wind and snow and the rain just cut our visibility to zero," McCay said. "We couldn't see."

"I think I could have made it about another night, and then that's it."
- Stephen McCay
McCay said they decided to bail on the hike when the weather turned bad, but they ended up going down the wrong side of the mountain, a mistake they didn't realize they made until later in the day.

Although the men had maps, a compass and GPS, they found themselves hemmed in by deepening water from the storm. They said it was difficult to navigate the poor trail conditions.

"Traveling was tough," Obert said. "With a pack in excess of 250 pounds and with snowshoes going through 5-foot snow -- it was rigorous."

The two were planning to hike Presidential Traverse and exit at the Highland Center at the top of Crawford Notch on Sunday afternoon.

The hikers were well equipped, and they credited their gear with helping them survive two nights on the mountain. Officials said they were on their way off the mountain when they were spotted by a National Guard helicopter.

"I think I could have made it about another night, and then that's it," McCay said.

Obert said they didn't think about the worst that might have happened, and instead set objectives for themselves and tried to reach those objectives.

Several teams from the Fish and Game Department, Androscoggin Search and Rescue, the Appalachian Mountain Club and others swept the trails on foot Monday, stopping at 9 p.m. Officials said rainy conditions were making the search difficult, but they did find some footprints.

Weather conditions made it impossible to use a helicopter on Monday, but better weather allowed the helicopter to search from the sky on Tuesday.

"It's awesome to have people who care about you so much, whether it's family, friends or complete strangers."
- Alex Obert
Friends said the men had hiked the same area of the Presidential Trail last summer and had recently ice climbed in Colorado.

As to whether they plan to get out on the trails again soon, McCay and Obert said they plan to take it easy for now.

"Nothing any time soon," Obert said. "I'm just going to relax and rest up after this one."

McCay's family had arrived at the mountain when the men were found, and Obert's were on their way. Obert said he was glad to talk to his sister on the phone once they came off the mountain.

"It was really heartfelt," he said. "It's awesome to have people who care about you so much, whether it's family, friends or complete strangers."

A number of hikers have gone lost or missing in recent weeks. Two hikers from Massachusetts survived a frigid night on Mount Washington in early February by sheltering in a hole they dug in the snow.

Last week, one of two hikers in Franconia Notch was pronounced dead after the two men were found. The other man was recovering from hypothermia and frostbite. Rescuers said the men were not properly equipped to spend a cold night on the mountain.

A hiker from Boston was rescued on Saturday after losing his way in whiteout conditions during a hike in Franconia Notch on Friday. Officials said Benjamin Davis, 28, had a sleeping bag, tent and cold-weather gear but didn't have snowshoes and was running a risk by hiking alone. He was released from a hospital on Sunday.

Previous Story:

* February 18, 2008: Crews Search For Hikers Lost In Crawford Notch




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