Winter Storm: Two Friends in a Swirling Vortex

July 29, 2026 · 50 min · Season 1 · Episode 157

About this episode

The episode recounts the harrowing experience of two friends caught in a winter storm during a hike in New Hampshire.

In 2008, James Osborne sets out on his first winter hike, guided by his friend and colleague, Fred. But a combination of bad luck and bad judgement means a simple day trip in New Hampshire’s White Mountains snowballs into a desperate battle against the fury of nature. Caught in the middle of a blistering storm with no tent, meagre provisions and no chance of quick rescue, their only hope is to try to descend back down the mountain. As the cold bites, it isn’t long before things spiral out of control… A Noiser podcast production. Hosted by John Hopkins. Written by Heléna Lewis | Produced by Ed Baranski | Assistant Producer: Luke Lonergan | Additional script editing: Joe Viner | Exec produced by Joel Duddell | Sound Supervisor: Matt Peaty | Sound design by Jacob Booth | Assembly edit by Rob Plummer, Dorry Macaulay | Compositions by Oliver Baines, Dorry Macaulay, Tom Pink | Mix & mastering: Ralph Tittley. For ad-free listening, bonus material and early access to new episodes, join Noiser+. Click the subscription banner at the top of the feed to get started. Or go to noiser.com/subscriptions If you have an amazing survival story of your own that you’d like to put forward for the…

People in this episode

Host: John Hopkins

Topics covered

winter hiking
survival
nature
friendship
adventure
disaster

Keywords

winter storm
hiking
survival story
New Hampshire
White Mountains
adventure
nature

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Noiser, noiser.com

Places: New Hampshire, White Mountains