Medford Teen, Father Rescued from New Hampshire Mountain

A Medford teen and her father were rescued early Sunday morning from Mount Major in Alton, New Hampshire, after they got lost on the mountain Saturday evening and spent much of the night in the wilderness.

A Massachusetts church group with 35 people, including 16 children, also got lost on Mount Major Saturday and had to be rescued.

Raasida Gaugier, 19, and her father Movva Rao Nageswara, 48, of Switzerland, called 911 at about 7:55 p.m. Saturday after losing the trail. The two, who started hiking at 4:15 p.m. that afternoon, thought they were following a trail, but it was actually an old boundary line, according to a New Hampshire Fish and Game release.

Alton Police and Fire, New Hampshire Fish and Game and eventually a Dartmouth-Hitchcock Advanced Response Team helicopter, with infrared cameras and search lights, conducted the search. Two Fish and Game officers made voice contact with Gaugier and her father at about 4:30 a.m. They were brought to safety soon after.

The church group, which started hiking at 4 p.m. Saturday, called 911 at about 8:30 p.m. after taking the wrong trail down the mountain. An Alton firefighter located the group at about 1:40 a.m.

The group was in high spirits, gathered around a fire singing songs, authorities said. They were taken off of the mountain at about 3:15 a.m.

Mount Major is a 1,786-foot mountain in Alton, New Hampshire, south of Lake Winnipesaukee.

New Hampshire Fish and Game recommends taking the following 10 items on any hike: map, warm clothing, flashlight or headlamp, first aid kit/repair kit, whistle, compass, extra food and water, matches/fire starters, rain/wind jacket and pants, pocket knife.