NJ teens face hefty bill after requiring rescue from hike in mountains

When it started getting dark and the temperatures dropped below freezing with the wind chill, the four longtime friends from Edison called for help.

Three of the teenagers had trained at the gym for the 9-mile strenuous hike, but the fourth had not; he needed frequent breaks and was getting cramps as the altitude climbed to 5,000 feet on Mount Lafayette. News 4’s Jen Maxfield reports. 

Four teenagers from New Jersey may be on the hook to pay for a pricey rescue after their hike turned into a late-night emergency.

The four 18-year-olds were seen on video from the Franconia Ridge trail in New Hampshire, enjoying the views in nature before heading back to college in a matter of weeks.

The problem: The rising sophomores didn't start hiking until 3:30 p.m. Friday — less than four and a half hours before sunset.

"You should start really early so it’s not dark when you go down. And you shouldn’t be overconfident," said Tirth Shah, one of the rescued hikers.

Three of the teenagers had trained at the gym for the strenuous nine-mile hike, but the fourth had not. He needed frequent breaks and was getting cramps as the altitude climbed to 5,000 feet on Mount Lafayette. 

"He was excited for the trip, can’t blame him. But he should have been more prepared the way we were," said hiker Advik Yadav.

When it started getting dark and the temperatures dropped below freezing with the wind chill, the four longtime friends from Edison called 911 for help.

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"I was telling him 'I’m with you, take your breaths we are with you,'" said Yadav. "I’m really grateful for the rescuers who saved us."

New Hampshire sent a search and rescue team, and it took nine hours to get back to base. A spokesperson said the group "did not have headlamps or enough food and water to complete the 7-9 hour hike. Due to the hikers' lack of preparation, the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department intends to bill the hikers for the cost of the rescue" — which is likely upwards of $1,000. 

The friends said their parents were just glad they all got home safe.

"They were stressed for a bit and proud that we helped a friend and had help for him," said Shah. "These things happen very often and people don’t know what will happen up there."

The four hikers were back home in Edison by Saturday afternoon, and two of them even were back at the gym Sunday. The one friend who had difficulty breathing and walking during the hike was doing well and did not require medical attention.