Nearly two dozen hikers had to be rescued Saturday after they found themselves stranded and hypothermic on the summit of Mount Washington in New Hampshire .

Employees at the Mount Washington Cog Railway brought more than 20 “ill prepared hikers” down from the 6,288-foot summit, where wintery conditions are in full force, according to Andrew Vilaine, the railway’s assistant general manager.

“Many were hypothermic and without gear even near suitable for the conditions,” Vilaine said in a Facebook post . “Most had no idea that Summit services would be unavailable and that the state park was closed for the season. A few indicated it was their first hike ever.”

Temperatures on Mount Washington’s summit this weekend have ranged in the single digits after accounting for wind chill, accor

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