PINKHAM NOTCH, N.H. — It could be days or weeks before the body of Boston hiker Norman Priebatsch can safely be recovered from a deep crevasse in Tuckerman Ravine, New Hampshire forest officials said Wednesday.
Conditions in and around the crevasse are still very hazardous, but are actively being monitored for changes that may allow for additional recovery efforts, Tiffany Benna, White Mountain National Forest spokeswoman, said in a report.
“The timing of any future efforts in the field is uncertain as the timeline continues to be measured in days and weeks,” she said.
On Sunday afternoon, Priesbatsch, 67, was attempting to hike down near the Lip area of Tuckerman Ravine when he fell and slid into an crevasse. He was hiking with his 23-year-old son and others at the time.
“My understanding is that Mr. Priebatsch fell about 20 feet over a rock band, then slid several hundred feet before sliding into the crevasse,” Benna said by email.
The emergency was reported to U.S. Forest Service snow rangers, who responded.
A snow ranger was lowered approximately 40 to 50 feet into the crevasse to try to locate Priebatsch, Benna said.
About 30 feet below the rescuer’s lowest point, the slope angle changed and the crevasse constricted to a narrow tunnel with water running through it, she said.
Benna said a decision was made to suspend rescue efforts by about 11 p.m. that night “due to the very high level of risk involved with descending deeper due to large hanging icicles in the crevasse, running water and snow collapse from above.”
On Wednesday afternoon, Chris Joosen, the USFS‘s lead Mount Washington snow ranger, said rescue operations are now considered a recovery mission.
“It has been my experience that a fall into a crevasse of that depth with its associated hazards is not survivable,” said Joosen, who has worked and led search and rescue efforts in Tuckerman for about 25 years.
The forest service continues to consult with New Hampshire Fish and Game officials and other colleagues to determine available options to pinpoint Priebatsch’s exact location, Benna said.
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