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The CRUX: True Survival Stories

Disaster on Franconia Ridge: A White Mountains Survival Story | E216

The CRUX: True Survival Stories

Bleav + Kaycee McIntosh + Julie Henningsen

Society & Culture, Halloween, Wilderness, True Crime, Nature, National, Crime, Documentary

4.0606 Ratings

🗓️ 16 February 2026

⏱️ 28 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

Two experienced hikers set out for a four-hour loop in New Hampshire's White Mountains on a clear February morning in 2008, but a sudden weather change trapped them in hurricane-force winds and subzero temperatures. What happened over the next 24 hours would test the limits of human survival and launch one of the most dramatic mountain rescues in New Hampshire history.

Transcript

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0:00.0

You know what's worse than being stranded on a mountain with no food?

0:03.9

Uh, listening to ads when you're trying to escape reality? Exactly. That's why we've got

0:09.8

you covered on Patreon. For just a few bucks, ditch the ads completely. And for a few bucks more,

0:16.3

get ad-free listening plus early access to our disaster strikes episodes.

0:21.3

Because when disaster hits in the middle of nowhere, you'll want the story first.

0:26.6

Head to patreon.com and search Crux True Survival Stories.

0:31.5

Your future survival depends on it.

0:34.3

Okay, maybe not literally, but your listening experience definitely will.

0:46.1

Hello, survivalists. This is the Crux True Survival Story podcast. I'm Casey McIntosh.

0:52.5

And I'm Julie Henningson. And we are medical professionals with a

0:55.8

passion for wilderness survival. Join us as we explore real life survival stories and the

1:00.9

critical moments that determine their outcomes. Buckle up. Adventure awaits. Let's dive into

1:06.0

this week's story. Welcome back to the crux. Before we share our story today, a quick shout out to listener

1:14.8

Corey Barrett and Family. They sent a suggestion with this story idea through our new website,

1:21.0

thecrux Survival.com. Thanks, Corey and family. It's 4.30 in the afternoon on February 10, 2008. Fred Fred

1:30.5

Fredrickson can't see anymore. His eyelids are frozen shut from frostbite. His hand rests on

1:37.8

James Osborne's shoulder as they stumble forward through 70-mile-per-hour winds on Little Haystack Mountain. The temperature has

1:46.8

dropped from the mid-20s to single digits in less than two minutes. James looks back. Fred has

1:54.8

collapsed into a fetal position on the snow. Fred, you've got to get up. You've got to get up. Fred doesn't move.

2:04.2

James turns and continues walking. In his mind, he thinks, I'm 36 years old and this is how I die.

2:12.7

We should probably back up. That was February 10th, 2008, but this story actually starts with two friends

2:19.8

who just wanted to share a Sunday hike together. Fred Fredrickson and James Osborne were

...

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