Experienced Boston hiker is found dead on trail after he was hit with unseasonal 5 inches of snow on his journey

Published: 06:10, 23 April 2026 | Updated: 06:13, 23 April 2026 A hiker in New England was found dead on a trail after an unexpected snowstorm left him stuck in nearly half-a-foot of snow. Kent Wood, 61, of West Roxbury, Massachusetts, was discovered about 5.5 miles from his car in Franconia Notch on Tuesday, according to the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department. Wood's family became concerned after not hearing from him for two days as he hiked in the White Mountains and they contacted officials. The hiker began his journey at the Lafayette Campground in Lincoln on Friday, planning to camp and hike for the weekend. Officials determined that Wood was not prepared for the three to five inches of snow that fell between Sunday and Monday, noting that he had expected warmer conditions. The weather that weekend in Lincoln was sporadic. The day Wood arrived on April 17, temperatures reached 66 degrees Fahrenheit but dropped below freezing on April 20. Officials began an extensive search on Tuesday involving several agencies around the Lonesome Lake and Kinsman Pond area. Officials located Wood's body at 7.41pm that same day and carried it out of the trail at 1.10am the next morning. Kent Wood, 61, of West Roxbury, Massachusetts, was discovered about 5.5 miles from his car in Franconia Notch - trail in the White Mountains (Stock Image) Officials determined that Wood was not prepared for the three to five inches of snow that fell between Sunday and Monday (Stock Image) Officials issued a safety warning to the public: 'New Hampshire Fish and Game would like to remind hikers that it is still winter in the mountains with deep snow, precipitation, and freezing temperatures.' According to WCVB, six hikers from Massachusetts were rescued in the White Mountains this past week. Fish and Game Sgt. Christopher McKee told the outlet that hikers should expect winter conditions in the area. 'It's 40 degrees at the top and never got above freezing. The trees are still covered in snow. Nothing was melting up there, and it was extremely cold.' McKee added that he expects hikers to have proper equipment and attire, such as waterproof boots, as the warm weather begins to melt the snow. He added that proper preparation includes informing others about your trip, where you will be, and when you will be there. The weather that weekend in Lincoln was sporadic. The day Wood arrived on April 17, temperatures reached 66 degrees Fahrenheit, but dropped below freezing on April 20 (Stock Image) In January, a hiker tragically died alone while climbing a dangerous California mountain after their friend turned back because of the treacherous conditions. The Inyo County Search and Rescue (SAR) started searching for the unnamed hiker on Mount Whitney after a report came in on January 21 stating they had failed to return. The agency, which works under the authority of the local sheriff's office, said two hikers started climbing the tallest mountain in the contiguous United States around 11.30pm January 17. By 3.30pm the following day, while near the 12,500ft elevation, one of the hikers turned around and descended after determining the conditions were too dangerous. No comments have so far been submitted. Why not be the first to send us your thoughts, or debate this issue live on our message boards. By posting your comment you agree to our house rules. Do you want to automatically post your MailOnline comments to your Facebook Timeline? Your comment will be posted to MailOnline as usual. Do you want to automatically post your MailOnline comments to your Facebook Timeline? Your comment will be posted to MailOnline as usual We will automatically post your comment and a link to the news story to your Facebook timeline at the same time it is posted on MailOnline. To do this we will link your MailOnline account with your Facebook account. We’ll ask you to confirm this for your first post to Facebook. You can choose on each post whether you would like it to be posted to Facebook. Your details from Facebook will be used to provide you with tailored content, marketing and ads in line with our Privacy Policy.