I got this softcover at Toadstool Books in Nashua. I'd enjoyed Gagne's first book about search-and-rescue in the White Mountains, Where You'll Find Me, and was interested to read more of his work. This one's about the attempt to rescue two hikers from the Franconia Ridge in the White Mountains, after they were caught unprepared in a severe storm in 2008. As with the previous book, this one mixes biographical details of the hikers and the rescue personnel with overviews of the terrain and weather conditions in the region, and emphasizes the need to be well-informed about current and forecast conditions - and to be prepared for sudden extreme changes, as well.

The story opens in an intensive care unit, as the survivor struggles for life after being brought in at a record low body temperature. From there it shifts back to the how-we-got-here story of two friends and co-workers who loved to hike - but who made a few key choices that left them at the mercy of a severe weather front. Their experiences as well as the massive efforts made by the different search-and-rescue teams combine to form an intense narrative that serves as both cautionary tale and an account of the awesome force of nature.

Guidelines for safely visiting and stocking Little Free Libraries during the COVID-19 pandemic, from the LFL site here.

I left this book in my Little Free Library; hope someone enjoys it!

[See other recent releases in NH here.]

*** Released for the 2021 Clean Start for the New Year challenge. ***

Found this were is was recently placed at a local Little Free Library. It's be on my list of books to read for a while and highly recommended. Looking forward to it.