3 Teens Among Group of Hikers Rescued from N.H. Mountain Trail, Officials Say: 'Dangerous Decision'

The group made it home over the weekend after alerting authorities

A hiking trip turned into a rescue mission over the weekend when authorities say a group of four was “unprepared” for a trip up a New Hampshire mountain range and needed help getting back down. 

Three teenagers and a man were retrieved from a White Mountains trail on Saturday, May 11, the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department said in a statement regarding the incident.

State officials said that they were first notified on Saturday night about “a group of hikers on the Flume Slide Trail who called for help."

“They were descending the ... trail but could no longer continue because they had no lights and also did not have equipment to overnight on the mountain. A rescue was initiated because of the risk from the cold temperatures and the unprepared state of the group,” the statement continued.

Related: Arizona Woman, 59, Falls to Her Death While Hiking and Taking Photos at Grand Canyon

As for how they got stuck, the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department said that a “dangerous decision was made” by the group to descend the particular trail, “considered one of the most difficult” in the mountains, leaving them needing assistance.

Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

Conservation officers provided them with lights and other essentials so that they were able to come down the mountain carefully in the pre-dawn darkness.

Officials went on to urge hikers "to not only make sure they are prepared with proper equipment, supplies and clothing but also with information about the trails, safe ‘bailout’ or contingency plans and current weather information.”

“Presently snow and ice still exist on many higher elevation trails which can create dangerous conditions even on pleasant spring days,” the statement concluded.

For more People news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter!

Read the original article on People.