Overdue Conway hiker helped off South Moat Mountain in Albany
January 19. 2018 9:32AM
ALBANY - Fish and Game officers helped an overdue, 76-year-old Conway hiker off South Moat Mountain Thursday night.
According to a release, Marvin Schwarz left his home about 10 a.m. to hike the Moat Mountain Trail, planning to return about 1 p.m. When the experienced winter hiker hadn't returned by 5 p.m., his wife reported him overdue to Fish and Game.
Conservation officers found his car at the Moat Mountain trailhead parking area off Passaconaway Road and followed his tracks. They found him in good spirits and unhurt about 9:30 p.m. in the Red Eagle Brook drainage about .8 miles from the road, hiking him out to Hammond Lane and driving him to his car about 10:25 p.m., the release said.
Schwarz told conservation officers he had slipped on ice and slid off the trail and tried to self-rescue by following a drainage that would lead to Passaconaway Road but became disoriented when it got dark. He said he had tried to call for help but his cell phone battery had died. Fish and Game officers said he was well equipped for a winter hike with snowshoes, microspikes, an ice axe and additional layers.
