A somber cloud hangs over the White Mountains of New Hampshire following the heartbreaking discovery of 79-year-old William Davis, a Jacksonville, Florida resident whose life came to a tragic end after he went missing near the summit of Mount Washington. What was meant to be a scenic visit to one of the country’s most awe-inspiring landscapes turned into a devastating loss, leaving family, friends, and the outdoor community mourning a man who ventured into the wilderness with curiosity and reverence.

William Davis, a retired mechanical engineer, had traveled from Florida to experience the rugged beauty of the White Mountains. Unlike the avid hiker described in some initial reports, Davis was not an experienced mountaineer and had no plans to hike during his visit. Instead, he and his wife ascended Mount Washington via the Cog Railway, a historic train that carries passengers to the summit of New Hampshire’s tallest peak. The trip was intended to be a leisurely outing to enjoy the stunning views from the 6,288-foot summit, a popular destination for visitors.

According to the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department, Davis was last seen near the observation deck at the summit around 3:20 p.m. on Wednesday, July 16, 2025. After taking in the panoramic views, he wandered off without informing anyone of his intentions, and his whereabouts became unknown. His wife reported his disappearance, prompting authorities to initiate a search around 6:00 p.m. that evening. A state park employee briefly made contact with Davis by phone, during which he described his surroundings, suggesting he was lost but not far from the summit. However, after more than an hour of searching, he could no longer be reached, and his phone stopped responding.

A full-scale search and rescue operation was launched, involving New Hampshire Fish and Game conservation officers, Mount Washington State Park personnel, and volunteers from the Androscoggin Valley Search and Rescue team. Over 24 rescuers, supported by a drone team, scoured off-trail areas late into the night, battling challenging conditions. Mount Washington is notorious for its unpredictable weather, and the search was hampered by dense fog, high winds, and temperatures dropping to around 40 degrees with a wind chill of 32 degrees. The effort continued until 2:00 a.m. Thursday, when it was suspended due to deteriorating conditions and a lack of clues about Davis’s location.

The search resumed at 6:00 a.m. on Thursday, July 17, with teams focusing on areas where Davis was most likely to have wandered. Despite extensive efforts, including drone sweeps and ground searches through thick clouds and increasing winds, no trace of him was found, and the operation was paused again Thursday night due to worsening weather. On Friday morning, July 18, the search continued with renewed determination, bolstered by the addition of an Army National Guard Blackhawk helicopter. Around 11:00 a.m., volunteer searchers located Davis’s body approximately 400 feet off the Lion Head Trail, between the Alpine Garden Trail and Tuckerman Ravine Trail, about a half-mile below the summit on the southeast side.

Preliminary findings indicate that Davis suffered a significant fall from a steep, rocky slope, though the exact cause of death awaits confirmation from the State Medical Examiner’s Office. Authorities noted that Davis was not equipped for hiking, lacked a map, and had no clear intention of venturing off the summit. “He was not a hiker, had no map, and every indication is he wandered off the summit without telling anyone where he was going,” the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department stated. The remote, rocky terrain where his body was found offered few clues about how he ended up there.

The news of William Davis’s passing has left his family and the broader community in shock and grief. While little has been publicly shared about his personal life, his wife’s cooperation with authorities and her hope for answers underscore the profound loss felt by those closest to him. Lieutenant Mark W. Ober of the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department noted, “There’s a sense of relief for her as well, knowing, at least knowing and not knowing that he’s on the mountain alone for three days.” The recovery of Davis’s body, facilitated by the Blackhawk helicopter landing in favorable wind and cloud conditions, brought a somber close to the nearly 40-hour search effort.

This tragic incident has sparked reflection within the outdoor community and serves as a stark reminder of the dangers posed by Mount Washington’s unpredictable environment. Even for those not intending to hike, the mountain’s rugged terrain and rapidly changing weather can create hazardous conditions. Authorities have reiterated the importance of staying on marked paths, informing others of travel plans, and being prepared for sudden weather shifts, even for visitors using the Cog Railway, which brings over 100,000 people to the summit annually.

Tributes to William Davis have begun to emerge, with some leaving messages of condolence and appreciation for his willingness to explore the natural beauty of the White Mountains. While no formal plans for a memorial have been announced, the idea of honoring his memory through a conservation or trail-related initiative resonates with those who value the wilderness he encountered. His journey, though tragically cut short, reflects a universal desire to connect with the majesty of nature—a pursuit that continues to draw countless visitors to Mount Washington each year.

As the peaks of the White Mountains stand solemn under ever-shifting skies, William Davis’s story will linger as a poignant reminder of the beauty and risks of the wild. His legacy, though brief in this landscape, will endure in the hearts of those who loved him and in the timeless granite trails of the mountain where his journey ended.

May he rest in peace, forever part of the mountains he came to see.