JAFFREY, N.H. (MyKeeneNow) A late-afternoon hike on Mount Monadnock turned into a cold, confusing ordeal for two Massachusetts hikers Sunday when fresh snow hid the trail and fading daylight left them stranded below the summit.

New Hampshire Fish and Game officials said they were notified around 4:15 p.m. that two people had called 911 after losing their way in Monadnock State Park. GPS data from the call allowed responders to pinpoint the pair several hundred feet south of the Red Spot Trail.

A conservation officer was able to communicate with the hikers and use mapping tools to steer them back toward the marked route, but officials said the two were poorly equipped for the wintry terrain, relying only on cellphone flashlights and wearing clothing not suited for freezing temperatures. Their progress was slow, and both of their phones were running low on battery, prompting officers to begin a ground response.

Two responding conservation officers reached the hikers — identified as Devin Machado, 23, and Alexandra Castro, 21, both of Somerset, Mass. — at about 6:40 p.m. The officers supplied them with headlamps, hand warmers, mittens, microspikes and water before walking them down the mountain. They arrived safely at the Monadnock State Park headquarters on Poole Road at 7:25 p.m.

Fish and Game officials said the incident underscores the importance of being prepared for winter conditions, even during short hikes. The agency encourages outdoor enthusiasts to support search-and-rescue operations through the purchase of a Hike Safe Card and reminds hikers to carry the ten essentials, including proper clothing, navigation tools, extra food and water and a light source.