Highlights: All three were NH residents; "lacking appropriate food, water, clothing or equipment for his hike" (specifically mentioned all 3 were given headlamps because they did not carry a flashlight).

Sounds to me like they will be charged a ‘search and rescue’ fee.

Here is the story from the Union Leader:

Fish and Game officers were called in to locate a lost and ill-prepared hiker over the weekend, with rescuers finding two more in similar states of distress along the way.

According to a release, New Hampshire Fish and Game officials received a call on Saturday at 7:15 p.m., from a state police dispatcher reporting a lost hiker near the summit of Little Haystack in Franconia.

Fish and Game officials said the hiker, identified as Mark Wilson, 29, of Manchester, became disoriented and lost the trail after mistaking the Shining Rock Trail for the Falling Waters Trail.

Once becoming lost on the Shining Rock Trail, Wilson called 911 and requested assistance. Conservation officers were able to provide directions to Wilson and get him back on the trail, but darkness became a factor and the Manchester man did not have a flash light or head lamp to continue to descend the trail.

Fish and Game reported that as a result of darkness falling and Wilson "lacking appropriate food, water, clothing or equipment for his hike," Conservation officers hiked approximately 1.6 miles up the Falling Waters Trail until they located Wilson.

While providing him with food and water, Conservation officers say they came across two additional lost and unprepared hikers and their dog. The hikers were identified as Corey Robertson, 25 and Analia Olivia, 20, both of Bedford.

All three hikers were given head lamps, food and water and were assisted down the mountain safely to the Lafayette Place Trailhead. No injuries were reported.

Mike Boisvert