Fish and Game officers said they recovered the body of a hiker from Jefferson, Massachusetts after he was reported missing Sunday morning. Officers said 26-year-old John Holden had planned to hike to West Bond Mountain and back on Christmas Eve Saturday. He was due back in Massachusetts by 11 p.m. but did not return. Fish and Game was alerted Christmas morning and went out to search as much of the trail as possible on snowmobiles. When Holden had not shown up by noon, Fish and Game decided to send out a team of officers to search the Bond Cliff Trail. Shortly after 8 p.m. the search team found Holden's body near the top of Bond Cliff almost nine miles from Lincoln Woods and the Kancamagus Highway. Officials say he likely died from hypothermia. "There were signs on the victim that indicated he was confused," said Fish and Game Col. Kevin Jordan. "His coat was on backwards which was kind of odd, and that can happen when someone gets into the advanced stages of hypothermia. He was trying to get clothing on, but it was a mess, it was on backwards and was unzipped." It was decided that the recovery effort would have to wait until Monday morning because of frigid temperatures and high winds. The rescuers made it back to Lincoln Woods at 8:30 a.m. with the body of the hiker. Officers said Holden was an experienced hiker and had adequate winter hiking gear. An autopsy has been planned.

Fish and Game officers said they recovered the body of a hiker from Jefferson, Massachusetts after he was reported missing Sunday morning.

Officers said 26-year-old John Holden had planned to hike to West Bond Mountain and back on Christmas Eve Saturday. He was due back in Massachusetts by 11 p.m. but did not return.


Fish and Game was alerted Christmas morning and went out to search as much of the trail as possible on snowmobiles.

When Holden had not shown up by noon, Fish and Game decided to send out a team of officers to search the Bond Cliff Trail.

Shortly after 8 p.m. the search team found Holden's body near the top of Bond Cliff almost nine miles from Lincoln Woods and the Kancamagus Highway.

Officials say he likely died from hypothermia.

"There were signs on the victim that indicated he was confused," said Fish and Game Col. Kevin Jordan. "His coat was on backwards which was kind of odd, and that can happen when someone gets into the advanced stages of hypothermia. He was trying to get clothing on, but it was a mess, it was on backwards and was unzipped."

It was decided that the recovery effort would have to wait until Monday morning because of frigid temperatures and high winds. The rescuers made it back to Lincoln Woods at 8:30 a.m. with the body of the hiker.

Officers said Holden was an experienced hiker and had adequate winter hiking gear.

An autopsy has been planned.

